Vodafone confirms Verizon in talks to buy Alltel

LONDON (Reuters) - Vodafone (VOD.L) confirmed on Thursday that U.S.-based Verizon Wireless, in which it has a 45 percent stake, is in advanced talks about buying U.S. rural mobile service provider Alltel.

Verizon Wireless is close to buying Alltel for $27 billion (14 billion pounds), including debt, a source familiar with the talks told Reuters on Wednesday, in a deal that would mean it overtakes AT&T (T.N) as the top U.S. wireless service.

(Reporting by Chris Wills,; Editing by Erica Billingham )