Billionaire Sunil Mittal?s Airtel Africa Plc (LSE:AAF) is considering an initial public offering for its mobile money unit that could value it at more than $4 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. Africa?s second-biggest telecom operator has held discussions with potential advisers about listing Airtel Money as soon as this year, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn?t public. The firm hasn?t decided where to list the unit, though executives are considering bourses in the United Arab Emirates, London and Europe among potential venues, they said.

Airtel Africa could ultimately decide not to proceed with an offering for the mobile money unit, the people said. Details such as timing of the potential IPO and valuation are preliminary, they said. Representatives for Airtel Africa declined to comment.