INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Amazon could be set to follow Facebook's footsteps into the Indian telecom market through a strategic investment in Bharti Airtel
a catch as neither of the two companies were ready to confirm the move, each claiming that it is nothing more than rumours though Bharti
Airtel made it appear as a routine conversation with one among the many OTT players to push Amazon Prime services to the mobile operator's
sudden bout of interest in India's mobile services and eCommerce marketplace
Facebook set the ball rolling with a $5.7 billion investment in Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of India's largest enterprise Reliance
move was reported by Reuters which cited unnamed sources to suggest that the discussions were in a very early stage for the planned
If completed this has the potential to turbocharge India's digital economy and generate competition for Jio, which currently is the market
business in India appears to be catching the fancy of investors, given the fast growing mobile subscriber base and the potential of online
which has pumped in more than $6.5 billion in India, a deal with a telecom company would make lots of sense, given that it would
straightaway have access to their 320 million plus subscribers across the country
It would give them considerable heft to take on Jio Platforms which received over $15 billion in funding and is now valued at $66
made-in-heaven after their failed efforts to enter the lucrative eCommerce business through a tie-up with Walmart
The duo parted ways in 2013 after a six-year alliance that came up when India allowed foreign direct investment in retail only through the
online before setting up a brick-and-mortar store so long as they do have one within two years of starting digital sales
desperateAssuming that the talks are on and culminate in a win-win for Amazon and Bharti Airtel, it would be the latter's second attempt
at entering the eCommerce business
Walmart paid $16 billion in May 2018 for a 77% stake in Flipkart, India's first eCommerce player, in what was then considered the world's
As on March 31, 2020, the company had a net debt of roughly $13 billion and the company had reported a consolidated loss of $693 million in
the January-March quarter of 2020
be seen how this one pans out
The Reuters report also suggested that in case talks for a stake sale failed, the two companies could come to an agreement on sharing
