(Telecompaper) Telkom and Airtel Kenya plan to merge operations as a first step to acquiring all of Airtel's assets, creating a stronger challenger to market leader Safaricom, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources. A source at the communication authority said the two firms have been engaging officials over the plan to share outlets and infrastructure, such as transmission assets, before Telkom acquires Airtel Kenya at an unspecified time. According to the source, the two operators are yet to make a formal application to the regulator disclosing all the details.