Kuwaiti mobile operator Zain will invest less in 2009 than last year on expanding its networks in Africa, Chris Gabriel, the head of the operator's African operations, told Reuters in an interview.

Gabriel said 2009 spending on infrastructure would fall to between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, from around $1.6 billion last year as the operator looks to 'optimise' investments.

'What you will see more is joint infrastructure,' Gabriel said.

Africa is one of the key growth areas for telecom gear makers who are battling fiercely in a shrinking market as operators delay investments due to the economic slowdown, and as Asian vendors Huawei and ZTE put pressure on prices.-Reuters