Indian mobile groups Bharti and Tata Communications have both been linked to international expansion plans this week. A report in India’s Financial Express, which cites unnamed sources, suggests that Bharti – India’s largest mobile operator – is preparing a shift in strategy following its aborted attempt to acquire the South African-based operator MTN. Instead of large acquisitions, sources say the operator is now looking at spearheading its international expansion plans with an MVNO strategy and would look only at small acquisitions where “the risk factors would be much lower.” India’s third-largest mobile operator, Reliance, recently entered exclusive talks with MTN following Bharti’s withdrawal.

Meanwhile, Dow Jones Newswires reported separately that Bharti rival Tata is looking to raise US$1 billion by year-end to help fund its overseas expansion plans. Based on an interview with Srinivasa Addepalli, Tata Communication’s senior vice president of corporate strategy, the report says Tata will spend US$500 million on a submarine cable project and another US$500 million to build a WiMAX broadband network in India. It is also reportedly looking at expanding its presence into a number of new countries, including China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan.