Vodafone, China Mobile and Verizon Wireless could create an unbeatable alliance through greater cooperation, according to Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Colao said a greater degree of cooperation would lead to better user experience and provide the companies with savings when buying mobile phones and other telecoms equipment.
"If you think of three players, China Mobile is very strong in China; it's a big country. Vodafone is very strong in Europe, Africa, India. Verizon is very strong in the US. If these three companies could work more closely"&brkbar; in the management of customers, procurement and service creation, we could be unbeatable, quite frankly."
He also warned that the shortage of spectrum in India was threatening to inhibit the growth of mobile broadband. The sale of spectrum and 3G licences has been delayed many times by the government.
Vodafone owns a 3.2% stake in China Mobile, China's largest mobile operator.
Last year, Vodafone, China Mobile and Verizon Wireless said they would work together on the 4G mobile technology, long term evolution (LTE).