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Can't afford Vodafone? How about buying an Indian WiMAX company instead?

 Mergers and acquisitions being "the thing to do" while so many companies are struggling with the credit crunch, the real question isn't "Should we acquire someone?" but "Who can we afford?" - and the Indian telecoms authorities have decided to make it a bit easier.

Normally, if a foreign telco tries to take over an Indian 3G or WiMAX operator there's a mandatory three year "waiting" period. But, for reasons which aren't entirely clear, this has been amended, reports Telegeography.

The report explains that foreign telcos can now buy local carriers immediately, and:

"The regulator has also reiterated that, other than existing Indian licence holders, only telcos with prior experience in offering 3G services will be allowed to bid for 3G spectrum."

India, of course, is neither "emerging" nor "Western" so you have to decide whether it's one of those markets where the population can't afford anything except WiMAX, or whether it's one of those places where 3G connectivity will become widespread. The Department of Transport seems to think WiMAX is going to be valuable: it's doubled the price for WiMAX spectrum, and has decided to allow WiMAX operators to offer voice, not just data.

So that's "emerging" then...