At the heart of the dispute is a $4 billion claim by EAC against MTN for what the former alleges to be acts of bribery.

EAC contends that MTN engaged in illicit payments to Iranian officials to secure the highly coveted first private network operator license in Iran.

This, EAC claims, resulted in their loss of a multi-billion Dollar telecoms license opportunity. The case has found its way to SA courts following EAC's unsuccessful legal attempt in the United States, which was dismissed due to jurisdictional issues.

--SABC--