FRANCE Telecom is in talks with Motorola Inc to buy the US firm’s stake in mobile phone operator Egyptian Company for Mobile Services (MobiNil), a source said. MobiNil is one of two current mobile operators in Egypt. Motorola holds an 18% stake in MobiNil, while France Telecom holds 23.5% and regional mobile phone operator Orascom Telecom has 26.1%, with the remaining shares mostly a free float of around 30%. There have been widespread rumours that Motorola is willing to divest its mobile operations individually, not only in Egypt, but also in other countries. France Telecom is one of the European operators rumoured to be interested in an alliance with, or acquisition of, MobiNil’s other main shareholder, Orascom Telecom, which has 18 mobile licences in countries across Africa and the Middle East. – Reuters