
Telstra has confirmed it is in talks to acquire mobile operator Digicel Pacific in the South Pacific region, in partnership with the Australian government. This follows a report in The Age/Sydney Morning Herald on 17 July.
Digicel Pacific provides communications services across Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Nauru, Tonga and Vanuatu, and generated EBITDA of USD 235 million in calendar year 2020. Telstra said the talks are incomplete with no certainty of a deal being agreed, and will update the market as appropriate.
Telstra said it was approached by the Australian government to initially provide technical advice in relation to Digicel Pacific. If Telstra moved forward with a deal, the government would provide financial and strategic risk management support. Telstra's equity investment would also be the minor portion of any deal.