IMC 2017: Proposed merger with Idea Cellular is next exciting chapter for Vodafone
ET Bureau|
Updated: Sep 27, 2017, 02.16 PM IST
Vodafone India’s proposed merger with Idea Cellular will be the ‘‘next exciting chapter ’ for the company, said the UK based telco’s group CEO Vittorio Colao in his video speech at the India Mobile Congress on Wednesday.
The $23 billion merger — announced on March 20 — if completed will create India’s largest telecom firm, which will be better placed to take on the threat posed by Reliance Jio Infocomm.
The company will look beyond voice, more into mobile data, in converse services, in cloud services, in IOT, in machine to machine, said the CEO at the conclave.
The telco will combine multiple technologies into one single machine network for digital connectivity and seamless high speed -called Unified Communication and roll it out in India, said Colao. “We offer unified communication in most parts of the world, we want to offer it also in India,” he added.
Colao also said that Indian consumers have a very strong appetite for data services but still over half a billion people have not connected to the internet and these are a great opportunity for all.
Indian telcos are trying to hold on to customers by offering large amounts of data as part of the bruising price war triggered by Jio’s entry last September which has hurt revenue and profits at India’s older operators.telcos are trying to hold on to customers by offering large amounts of data as part of the bruising price war triggered by Jio’s entry last September which has hurt revenue and profits at India’s older operators.
“To realize India’s full potential as a superpower, it is essential that the telecom sector which is a core driver of economic development is in good health. Telecom will be a key enabler of a future fit India and we have always to remember that telecoms enable other sectors including Healthcare, including education and catalyst Innovation,” he added .
Colao said that Vodafone is the largest FDI investor with over Rs134000 crores invested so far. The telco has provided connectivity to at least 210 million customers and 50 % of those are in rural areas, he added at the conclave.
He highlighted that India’s biggest strength is the ‘young and talented workforce’ and the company has trained 10000 of them who manage global networks on behalf of the other operations of Vodafone.
The $23 billion merger — announced on March 20 — if completed will create India’s largest telecom firm, which will be better placed to take on the threat posed by Reliance Jio Infocomm.
The company will look beyond voice, more into mobile data, in converse services, in cloud services, in IOT, in machine to machine, said the CEO at the conclave.
The telco will combine multiple technologies into one single machine network for digital connectivity and seamless high speed -called Unified Communication and roll it out in India, said Colao. “We offer unified communication in most parts of the world, we want to offer it also in India,” he added.
Colao also said that Indian consumers have a very strong appetite for data services but still over half a billion people have not connected to the internet and these are a great opportunity for all.
Indian telcos are trying to hold on to customers by offering large amounts of data as part of the bruising price war triggered by Jio’s entry last September which has hurt revenue and profits at India’s older operators.telcos are trying to hold on to customers by offering large amounts of data as part of the bruising price war triggered by Jio’s entry last September which has hurt revenue and profits at India’s older operators.
“To realize India’s full potential as a superpower, it is essential that the telecom sector which is a core driver of economic development is in good health. Telecom will be a key enabler of a future fit India and we have always to remember that telecoms enable other sectors including Healthcare, including education and catalyst Innovation,” he added .
Colao said that Vodafone is the largest FDI investor with over Rs134000 crores invested so far. The telco has provided connectivity to at least 210 million customers and 50 % of those are in rural areas, he added at the conclave.
He highlighted that India’s biggest strength is the ‘young and talented workforce’ and the company has trained 10000 of them who manage global networks on behalf of the other operations of Vodafone.
