Mobile phone giant Vodafone Group is considering buying a controlling interest in India's Hutchison Essar.
Vodafone said today the process was at an early stage, but its board believed the mobile market in India has great potential.
A move for Hutchison Essar would be consistent with its strategy of seeking selective acquisitions in developing markets, it said.
Vodafone's move raises the prospect of a $13-billion-plus bid battle with Reliance Communications for the operator.
Foreign investors are limited to owning 74 per cent of Indian mobile operators.
