Idea Cellular, strongly denied a news report that it was in exploratory talks about a merger with larger rival Vodafone India. 3 mobile phone carrier, Idea Cellular, strongly denied a news report on Tuesday that it was in exploratory talks about a merger with larger rival Vodafone India. A spokeswoman for Idea’s parent, conglomerate Aditya Birla, called the CNBC TV18 report of talks between Idea and Vodafone “baseless and absolutely false”. A spokesman for Vodafone India, India’s No. 2 operator by market share and the local arm of Britain’s Vodafone Group Plc , declined to comment on the report.

Source: Mint August 23, 2016 10:34 UTC