UPDATE 1-Qualcomm India unit to sell stake for $64 mln-srcs

* To sell broadband unit stake to Global Holdings, Tulip-srcs

* To sell 13 percent each to two Indian communications firms

* Qualcomm will announce partners for unit on Friday - exec (Adds detail)

By Rajesh Kurup and Indulal P.M.

MUMBAI, July 29 (Reuters) - The Indian broadband unit of cellphone chip maker Qualcomm (QCOM.O) plans to sell a 26 percent stake to two Indian companies for about 3 billion rupees ($64 million), two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. Global Holdings, which owns telecoms infrastructure firms GTL Ltd (GTL.BO) and GTL Infra (GTLI.BO), and communications services provider Tulip Telecom (TULP.BO) will buy 13 percent each in the newly formed Qualcomm's local unit, the sources told Reuters.

The sources declined to be named as they were not authorised to speak to the media ahead of an official announcement expected on Friday.

Spokesmen at Tulip Telecom and GTL group declined to comment when reached by Reuters.

Qualcomm will announce local partners for selling a stake in its India broadband unit on Friday, Kanwalinder Singh, president for Qualcomm's Indian and South Asian operations, said on Thursday. [ID:nBMA008122]

Qualcomm recently formed the India unit after its $1-billion purchase of wireless airwaves. The company is betting that ownership of the airwaves in India will boost sales of advanced cell phones and the chips that power them. [ID:nSGE65F029]

India is the world's fastest growing mobile market, with more than 600 million cellphone users or just over half the population. This compares with about 90 percent penetration in the United States and more than 100 percent in some European nations.

According to Indian laws, Qualcomm's stake in the Indian broadband venture cannot exceed 74 percent, and the remaining stake should be owned by Indian companies.

British bank Barclays (BARC.L) is the advisor on the Qualcomm India unit stake sale deal, sources said.

India's telecoms tower industry is going through consolidation as carriers opt for mergers or alliances in an effort to be more cost efficient.

In June, GTL Infra agreed to buy the telecoms tower business of Reliance Communications (RLCM.BO), to create what it said would be the world's largest telecoms infrastructure firm not controlled by an operator. [ID:nSGE65R028]

In January, GTL Infra agreed to pay $1.8 billion for Aircel's towers. A month later, U.S.-based American Tower Corp (AMT.N) announced plans to buy the tower unit of India's Essar Group for $432 million.

Shares in GTL Infra closed 2.3 percent lower at 45.95 rupees and Tulip Telecom fell 1.9 percent to 184.95 rupees. The main Mumbai market .BSESN ended up 0.2 percent. ($1=46.7 rupees) (Writing by Sumeet Chatterjee; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)