Qtel has been linked with an acquisition of Maroc Telecom, the operator that is currently under review by owner Vivendi, as the Middle East-based group reported impressive results for the third quarter of 2012.

According to the Financial Times, Qtel is planning to bid for a 53 percent stake in the Moroccan business.

However, it was also said that it is likely to face competition from fellow Middle East-based operator group Etisalat, which is also eyeing the unit.

According to the FT, Qtel is more than two-thirds owned by the Qatar state and government entities, while around one-third of Maroc Telecom is owned by the kingdom of Morocco – meaning regional politics could play a significant role in the deal.

Vivendi is undertaking a review of its holdings at the moment, against a backdrop of speculation that it is looking to “de-emphasise” its telecoms business.

Maroc Telecom is the country’s biggest operator, with around 17.4 million connections, compared with number-two placed Meditel’s 11.4 million.

For the three months, Qtel reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of QR1.07 billion, up 73.5 percent from QR616.2 million in the prior-year period, on revenue of QR8.63 billion, up 6.2 percent from QR8.13 billion.

According to Reuters, the company saw its bottom line improve due to the completion of a sale and leaseback deal for its towers in Indonesia, and from growth in its domestic business.

Wireless revenue was QR7.69 billion, some 89 percent of the group total, up 6 percent year-on-year from QR7.23 billion.