The Liquid Telecom/ Neotel transaction is progressing well and is awaiting regulatory approval from ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa). Should it go through, the deal will bolster Liquid Telecom's existing footprint in Africa – underpinned by what the company describes as the largest single longhaul fibre network on the continent.

"The key thing about the Neotel transaction is to have one network and many countries, then becomes easier to connect multiple branches, enterprises in multiple countries than it is to connect in one country," said Nic Rudnick, CEO of Liquid Telecom.

Speaking at AfricaCom 2016 in Cape Town, Rudnick also emphasised the data centre opportunity as a major focus point in the deal. He said Liquid Telecom plans to expand these data centres and build capacity to facilitate the roll out of additional digital services.

Along with this transaction, the telco is also looking to leverage its recent JV with Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) and the formation of Liquid Telecom Botswana to combine fibre assets in order to deliver end-to-end fibre services.

The vision is to create a pan-African network, says Rudnick, adding that the Neotel transaction is a significant moment for the company.

"We're not about painting a map blue... commercial opportunities that ensure connectivity, where the right opportunities emerge, we will take them," said Rudnick. "We don't like to go to places that are overserved, we look for places that are underserved."