Bharti Airtel – India’s largest mobile operator – remains keen to expand overseas via acquisition, according to an Economic Times report. “Our interest [to acquire] companies abroad remains as strong as it was,” Bharti Enterprises’ managing director Akhil Gupta told the publication. “We are ready to go for acquisition mostly in emerging markets. We will look at all options… We believe we are in a position to acquire a company and replicate the unique model based on low-cost and low-tariff.” The comments follow the operator’s failed attempt earlier this year to acquire pan-African and Middle Eastern operator MTN. The Economic Times report notes that Bharti already has licenses in the Seychelles and Channel Islands, and last week said it expects to launch services in Sri Lanka by year end. The company also last week launched a venture fund with an initial INR2 billion (US$44 million) to promote content and technology development.

Separately, Economic Times reports that Bharti Infratel, the infrastructure arm of Bharti Airtel, is mulling a listing of the company in 2-3 years time. Bharti Infratel recently partnered rival regional operators Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular to form Indus Towers, an independent tower company that will provide passive infrastructure services in India.