Britain’s Vodafone has confirmed that the US-based Verizon Wireless, in which Vodafone has a 45 per cent stake, is in advanced talks to buy the US rural mobile service provider, Alltel Corporation.

Britain’s Vodafone has confirmed that the US-based Verizon Wireless, in which Vodafone has a 45 per cent stake, is in advanced talks to buy the US rural mobile service provider, Alltel Corporation. Verizon Wireless is 55 per cent owned by Verizon Communications and Vodafone’s stake in the company is not likely to change under the deal. According to sources, Verizon Wireless will buy Alltel for around $27 billion, which includes around $23 billion of its debts.