MTN Group is considering a move to acquire South African rival Telkom SA.

Bloomberg reports that MTN Group could revive talks with Telkom, three years after talks over a potential takeover broke down.

Sources told the publication that negotiations could kick off before the end of the year.

The reports come three years after MTN Group walked away from talks with Telkom over an acquisition deal that would have created South Africa's biggest mobile operator.

On that occasion, talks were disrupted by fellow South African operator, Rain, which is the country's fourth-biggest mobile operator. Rain proposed that Telkom acquire the company instead of being taken over by MTN.

A deal between MTN and Telkom would combine to create the country's biggest telco with around 63 million subscribers. MTN has 39 million, while Telkom has grown its share to 24 million.

A deal would require regulatory approval to go ahead.

The country's government is pushing to bolster connectivity across the country, particularly in rural areas.

However, the telecoms industry says this is only commercially viable if infrastructure isn't duplicated.