For the first time, Sunil Mittal - chairman of the $2.7 billion Bharti Enterprises is revving up to launch cellular services under the Airtel brand banner in major overseas markets.

ET quotes Mr. Mittal saying:

“Bharti Airtel (formerly Bharti Televentures) is now ready to go international. The company is exploring opportunities to acquire overseas cellular licences to launch mobile services under the Airtel brand banner in key international telecom markets. Bharti is yet to identify the specific countries where it can launch mobile services,”

He declined to comment on the countries being explored for expansion and did not confirm whether Bharti Airtel will float a 100% overseas subsidiary or go for an offshore joint venture with an international operating partner.

At present, Bharti’s group turnover is at $2.7bn. “I see Bharti’s group turnover growing to $10 bn by Year ’10 and our national mobile subscriber exceeding 100m from 20m now,” he said.

Notwithstanding all the frenzied speculation of Bharti exiting the telecoms business in the 74% FDI regime Mr Mittal maintained steadfastly that telecoms would remain the mainstay of the Bharti group even four years from now.

“Telecom will generate at least 75% of the Bharti’s targeted $10bn revenues by ’10. The balance will come from our insurance, retail and agriculture businesses where we will soon unveil aggressive plans.

As I had written in an earlier post, Indian operators will be tough competitors in other emerging markets. The core expertise of Indian operators like Airtel is their ability to run profitable telecom operations on low tariffs with huge scales. Indian operators have the necessary expertise and experience to become telecom MNCs.