Bharti Airtel, India’s one of the major telecom service providers with operations in 19 countries in Asia and Africa is mulling expansion of its network in two more countries in the black continent. These countries are South Africa and Cameroon.

Despite incurring losses primarily because of its network expansion in Africa, roll-out of 3G services and tariff war in overcrowded telecom sector in India, its expansion plans in Africa may continue to unfold in 2012, according to media reports appearing in Africa.

The saturated markets in developed and economies particularly in Asia has forced many global players to look to Africa which still offers opportunities for mobile penetration. Other major players who are also offering services in the continent are Vodafone, MTN and Orange. It is believed that competition will get stiffer in 2012.

Currently Airtel offers services in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Niger, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. By adding South Africa and Cameroon, two of Africa’s fastest growing mobile economies to the list, Airtel aims to strengthen its position in Africa.