US giant AT&T is exploring the possibility of re-entering into India's lucrative mobile telephone service market, an India Express report, said.
The India Express report said within less than two months of being at the helm, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson is coming to India on a three-day visit this month, and will also be exploring the possibility of outsourcing some of its activities related to software development to India.During his three-day visit, Stephenson will meet secretary of the Department of Telecommunications and the chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) among other government officials, the report said.
AT&T can enter into the Indian market either through acquisition of an existing mobile service provider or by acquiring a new license for mobile services, it added.
At present, Idea and Spice can be two acquisition targets in the GSM mobile space. Spice, with its operations in only two circles, Punjab and Karntaka, may not be attractive for a giant like AT&T, the report said.
AT&T exited the Indian mobile service market in July 2005, when it sold its equity in Idea to Tata and Aditya Birla groups, the report further said.