Akhil Gupta , group managing director at telecom major Bharti Airtel Ltd is a busy man these days. In between giving finishing touches to the company?s major strategic expansion plans, he is also busy making a pitch for the Indian telecom sector to foreign audiences. In Singapore for the two-day India-Asia Investment Forum, Gupta also made it clear that Bharti would look at acquisitions if there was a right fit, but only ones, which were of large size, of over $500 million.

In between making a corporate presentation on Bharti and speaking at a session on how to capitalise on the Indian consumer, Gupta spoke to FE on various issues, ranging from the Tata-Virgin alliance, the tower business and Bharti?s future plans.

There?s a controversy over the exact nature of the Tata-Virgin alliance. What is your view? How does Bharti see this development?

The government has said that as per the terms of that agreement, it?s a franchise agreement. But whether it?s a franchise or mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) once you accept competition all that we say is, why get into this debate whether it?s MVNO or not? Make a policy for that. The government has also said they will refer it to Trai.

A lot is happening on your tower business. Currently, Indus Towers is a three-way joint venture between you, Vodafone and Idea. Are you open to getting more players in it?

Our theory on the tower business is, it?s an independent company, which, on a complete non-discriminatory basis will offer the towers for sharing to everybody. If somebody wants to pool in their towers, they are absolutely open. It?s an independent company and it?s open to all the operators.

And you have about 42% in it?

Yes, 42%.

Are you looking at divesting some part of this stake?

We have already announced that we are raising $1.25 billion. That we?ve already tied up and announced. We have no plans of increasing that significantly. This raising of funds is in Bharti Infratel, which roughly corresponds to about 8-9%.

That?s where Temasek and other PE players came in as a club?

Yes, that?s the one.

Is there a plan to consolidate the two tower companies and bring them together?

Vodafone was in 16 circles, so we thought let?s form a joint venture where we both can contribute equally and have an equal shareholding. We didn?t want to have one more dominant than the other, so it was best to have equal holdings.

What is the plan on the under-5% stake, which Vodafone still holds in Bharti Airtel?

They have over 4%. We believe that in our industry we can compete, but we also collaborate and we are all friends.

If tomorrow, Reliance Communications wants to take a stake in the tower company, for instance, would you be open to that?

Certainly, why not? But they have their own tower company, so I don?t see that as a possibility. Our company is open to everyone.

What is the investment plan for this year?

A: We have announced a $2.5 billion plan for Bharti Airtel, but for the tower company we have not announced anything yet. They are working out a plan.