Cisco Systems Inc. is considering buying the world's top mobile handset maker Nokia in a bid to gain its wireless infrastructure technology, the Business newspaper reported on Sunday.
The paper, which did not reveal the source of its information, said U.S.-based Cisco had traditionally concentrated on acquisitions of niche technology players, but its Chief Executive John Chambers is believed to be interested in merging with a wireless infrastructure company.
"Nokia has been identified as the most likely target," the paper said.
Cisco, the largest maker of Internet equipment, is worth around $123 billion, while Nokia's market value is around $71 billion.
The paper said Cisco's mainstay networking market was fast changing with the convergence of fixed-line and wireless networks, and Cisco needed a merger to acquire the technology to create intelligent wireless applications, which Finnish-based Nokia could provide.
Cisco declined to comment. A Nokia spokeswoman in Helsinki also declined to comment.