Bharti eyes emerging markets for potential acquistions

New Delhi, Sept 15 (UNI) Even after the MTN deal fallout, the country's largest private sector telecom operator Bharti Airtel is still bullish on overseas acquisition and exploring all options in this direction.

''We are keeping all our options open regarding overseas acquisiton,'' Bharti Enterprises Deputy Group CEO and Managing Director Akhil Gupta told reporters here.

The company is keenly looking at the emerging markets where it can replicate the ''successful Indian telecom story'', he added.

He, however, refused to divulge any details on the potential contenders for acquisition.

In May this year, Bharti Airtel Ltd ended takeover talks with South Africa's MTN Group after failing to agree on which company will control a combined entity.

The groups had hoped to create the world's sixth-largest mobile operator with over 130 million subscribers in 24 countries after first announcing they were in talks on May 5.

Bharti Airtel, 30.5 per cent owned by Singapore Telecommunications, was eyeing a 51 per cent stake in MTN.

UNI SR/AK SG HS1502