Bharti Airtel, India's biggest mobile phone carrier, is in advanced talks to buy out the Indian partners of Qualcomm Inc in a fourth-generation (4G) broadband venture in India. Qualcomm, which spent nearly $1 billion to buy 4G radio airwaves in a 2010 government auction, had sold a total 26% stake to Indian companies Global Holding Corp and Tulip Telecom for about $58 million to comply with the sector's foreign holding rules. Bharti and Global Holding declined to comment, while Qualcomm and Tulip were not immediately available. If Bharti comes on board, Qualcomm will get a carrier partner with experience in operating 3G and 4G networks. The deal will give Bharti access to four telecoms zones, including the lucrative Delhi and Mumbai cities, where it does not have its own 4G airwaves.
