A battle between incumbent GSM and CDMA operators has broken out, with Marten Pieters, the managing director of Vodafone Essar, the country's second-largest telecom operator, lashing out at comments made by a competing operator, saying it was ridiculous to imply that incumbent GSM players like them were hoarding scarce spectrum.
The money will be used to build capacity.
Interview with MD and CEO, Vodafone India.
Vodafone India MD & CEO Marten Pieters, 59, blames regulation and the spectrum policy for the telecom industry's troubles.
Vodafone India on Tuesday reported an 11.7 per cent growth in its revenue at Rs 20,746.9 crore (Rs 207.46 billion) for the April-September period of this fiscal on the back of data revenues, customer additions and stable pricing.
The chief of the British telco's Indian subsidiary, which is the second largest cellular operator in India, also said the recent decisions by telecom authorities have disappointed the sector.
The Vodafone India head said hope is high now with the new government coming with a strong mandate and he is sure that the new government will quickly start to address some of the blocking factors for stronger economic growth.
Telecom industry in India is in a mess and it is a result of thinking that more the competition better it is, Vodafone India CEO & Managing Director Marten Pieters said on Thursday.
Vodafone India, the nation's second-biggest telecom firm, is planning to invest Rs 7,100 crore in the next 2-3 years, mainly on rolling out 3G networks.
Vodafone has to sell its entire stake in Airtel following new norms issued by government.
This will be the first time BJP's prime ministerial candidate holds a discussion with IT, telecom czars.
Eight telecom companies, including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular, the biggest three in the country, bid a combined Rs 61,162 crore (Rs 611.62 billion) in the spectrum auction held earlier this month.
Vodafone India on Thursday launched tariff plans wherein customers can get calls, SMSes and 3G data bundled with an iPhone starting at Rs 2,099 per month.
In 2013-14, India became the third-largest contributor to Vodafone Group's service revenue and operating free cash flow.
The IPO is expected to bring handsome fees for the selected banks at a time when billion-dollar listings have become scarce
Country accounts for 38% of telco's global user base, 10% of total revenue
The uniform SUC, if implemented as per recommendations made by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, will provide relief for mobile operators such as Airtel, Vodafone and Idea, but will increase rates for broadband wireless access spectrum holders like RJIL.
When, recently, Bharti Airtel announced a Rs 21,000 crore rights issue, analysts pointed out that its structure was similar to that of Reliance's issue in June 2020. One similarity is that shareholders in both companies have to pay only 25 per cent of the money on application. The rest is to be paid in two tranches. In Bharti Airtel's case, it is within 36 months; in Reliance Jio's, it is within 17 months.
Vittorio Colao, who is currently on an India visit, said he would be open to listing his company in the country
The government plans to take India into the top 50 ranks in ease of doing business in the next two years with efforts such as shifting all applications for industrial licenses online.
Cut-throat competition, high spectrum costs, and frequent flip-flops in government policies have made it difficult for Vodafone to make money in the country.
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After a two year run-in with controversies, telecom sector now looks stable and seems back on its feet with initial investment proposal of over Rs 11,000 crore (Rs 110 billion) received in 2013.
The market could see a fresh round of tariff war, similar to what happened in the voice market a few years ago.
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