Are AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) About to Go on a Foreign Buying Spree?

Another suggested AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) European target was the U.K. telecom EE, owned by France Telecom SA (ADR) (NYSE:FTE) and Deutsche Telekom.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) owns 9% of Mexican telecom giant America Movil SAB de CV (ADR) (NYSE:AMX), an investment that may prove a stumbling block if AT&T does make a play for Telefonica. America Movil and Telefonica are rival wireless companies in several Latin American countries, and regulators in those locales could bring anti-competitive objections.

Like sharks, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Verizon will have to keep moving forward to keep their dominant wireless positions, if not to just stay alive. They may be thwarted from growing at home, but there is a world of opportunity beyond our borders. I think a big buy from either or both of these companies will be coming sooner rather than later.

Fool contributor Dan Radovsky owns shares of AT&T. The Motley Fool recommends France Telecom and Vodafone and owns shares of France Telecom.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.