Telstra in talks to buy Digicel Pacific in govt-backed bid

Telecom deal: A man and power lines are reflected in a Telstra poster adorning a public telephone in Sydney. Telstra has been approached by the Australian government to partner in the bid for Digicel. — Reuters

CANBERRA: Telstra Corp Ltd said it was in talks to buy the Pacific operations of telecom company Digicel Group after the Australian government said it would finance the bulk of its bid.

Digicel – the Pacific’s largest mobile phone carrier – has become a focus in Australia amid speculation the telecom could be purchased by a Chinese state-owned company.