EU clears Belgacom deal on BICS, MTN business

BRUSSELS Oct 27 (Reuters) - EU regulators approved on Tuesday Belgian telecoms company Belgacom's (BCOM.BR) takeover of Belgacom International Carrier Services SA (BICS), paving the way for BICS to expand into the fast-growing African market.

Following the approval by the European Commission, BICS will buy South African mobile phone operator MTN's (MTNJ.J) international carrier business.

MTN is the biggest mobile operator in Africa. BICS is currently controlled jointly by Belgacom and Switzerland's Swisscom (SCMN.VX). "The proposed concentration would not give rise to any competition concerns, given the very small market share of BICS in the global market for wholesale telecommunications services," the Commission said in a statement. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, editing by Dale Hudson)