Indian telco Bharti Airtel could expand its stake in UK telco BT Group.

As reported by Reuters, Bharti is exploring whether the company will be able to expand its 24.5 percent stake in BT to just under 30 percent.

The company could increase its stake to as much ⁠as 29.9 percent, which is just shy of the figure that requires it to make a full takeover offer for the British telco giant.

Bharti snapped up its stake in BT in 2024, buying the stake from Altice founder Patrick Drahi.

Bharti initially acquired a 10 percent stake earlier in 2024, before gaining government approval to increase the stake to its current 24.5 percent.

The company noted at the time that it isn’t interested in a full takeover, which Reuters reported to still be the case.

Should Bharti attempt to grow its existing stake, the British government will need to review the transaction as part of the National Security and Investment Act.

It comes a week after reports emerged that Bharti was also looking to increase its ownership in its African unit, Airtel Africa.

Ironically, BT previously owned a 21 percent stake in Bharti Airtel between 1997 and 2001, a subsidiary of Bharti Enterprises Limited.