The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Tokyo

NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan's biggest mobile phone operator, plans to buy a 30 percent stake in Aktel, Bangladesh's third-biggest cell phone company, for about 40 billion yen ($386 million), sources familiar with the matter said.

Aktel is 70 percent owned by Telekom Malaysia International and 30 percent owned by Bangladeshi firm AK Khan & Co.

DoCoMo is in the final stages of talks to buy the 30 percent stake owned by AK Khan & Co and plans to work with Telecom Malaysia in operating Aktel, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The sources said a final decision on the stake sale could come as early as this month.