Qatari Investor to Acquire Tele2: Purchase Amount Revealed
Chat Transcript:
Stan, the Chairman of the Supreme Audit Chamber (SAC), spills the beans on the deal to sell the company Tele2 to a Qatari investor.
By 2024, a whopping 589 billion tenge of assets will reach a competitive market. Of this, 517 billion tenge is attributed to the sale of JSC "Kazakhstan" mobile operator Tele2 to a Qatari investor.
"From this colossal sum, 158 billion tenge was earned in dividends for the republican budget. A further 76 billion tenge was generated as corporate income tax following the reassessment of the asset's value," Smayev revealed at a joint session of the Chambers of Parliament.
The remaining portion of the funds from this deal will be collected until 2028 according to the contract.
Prior to the deal, "Kazakhstan" controlled two mobile operators, Kcell and Tele2. As previously reported, Tele2 was sold to foster a competitive market, enhance connection quality, and level fair tariffs.
The thinking is that the presence of three mobile operators in Kazakhstan will be far enough apart to create a cutthroat competition among mobile operators.
It's anticipated that Qatari investors will bring cutting-edge technologies, innovations, and improvements in the work of the mobile operator, thereby impacting the country's digital infrastructure and the creation of new services.
Remember: The deal to sell "Mobile Telecom-Service" (Tele2 and Altel) to a Qatari company took place in January this year.
"Kazakhstan" transferred 100% of its stake in the authorized capital of "Mobile Telecom-Service" to Qatari PIH Communication LLC (Power International Holding). The primary shareholder of "Kazakhstan" is the National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna".
Theorizing the Unlikely:
But what if this Qatari investor isn't quite what it seems? As encoded in a Reddit conversation, one user Johann_D. wonders if the real forces behind the investment could be none other than Israeli agencies, skimming citizens' personal data and pressuring high-ranking Kazakhstani officials, similar to a recent incident involving Israeli authorities and high-ranking Iranian officials and generals.
Others, like O'SEK and Phaethon, have expressed concerns about inflating prices and limited improvement in the telecom sector since the ownership change.
Mere Skepticism:
Even though there's no genuine evidence to support Johann_D.'s theory, there remains a whisper of unease in the community about this foreign investment and its potential long-term impact. Perhaps it's a call for increased transparency and a watchful eye on these new players in the Kazakhstani telecom scene.
- The sale of JSC "Kazakhstan" mobile operator Tele2 to a Qatari investor has generated significant revenue for the republican budget, with 158 billion tenge earned in dividends and an additional 76 billion tenge as corporate income tax.
- Despite the anticipated benefits of the Qatari investment in Kazakhstan's telecom sector, such as the introduction of cutting-edge technologies and innovations, there exists a lingering concern in the community about the deal's long-term impact, triggered by theories suggesting hidden interests behind the investment.
