South Africa's data provider rain to launch mobile service

JOHANNESBURG, March 16 (Reuters) - South Africa's rain, which provides data-only services, plans to soon launch a mobile service, African Rainbow Capital Investments (AILJ.J) said on Thursday, enabling it to compete with the country's three other players in voice calls too.

ARC Investments, which holds a 20.3% interest in rain, said the provider will use the newly acquired spectrum bought last year in an auction to launch its mobile service, without giving any other details on the plan.

Earlier this year, rain and No.3 mobile network provider Telkom (TKGJ.J) terminated discussions about a potential acquisition of rain after the parties decided that a suitable transaction was not possible at that time.

Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Sharon Singleton

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