Vodafone invested Rs 1140 cr for mobile network in Odisha

Vodafone India, a fully owned subsidiary of the Vodafone Group Plc, has invested over Rs 1140 crores for network expansion in the state in last six years, said a company official.

"Vodafone has 14.1 per cent market share by revenues in the state and enjoys third position in the circle by revenue market share. Last year, the revenue was about Rs 490 crore and the year on year growth was close to 14 per cent", said BJAS Murthy, Operations Director-North and Odisha, Vodafone India, on the occasion of completion of six years of operation in the state.

Airtel and state-run telecom service provider, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) occupy the first and second positions respectively as mobile telecom service providers in the state.

The Indian subsidiary of the British telecom giant has about 3.5 million subscribers in Odisha and operates with 3618 cell sites. Vodafone, which provides 2G services in the state, has registered a growth in data users at the rate of 58 per cent.

Two out of every three customers have data enabled handsets and the data subscribers in the state have touched 1.1 million. The data contributes about 7.5 per cent of the revenues, he added.

With 220 retail touch points, the telecom company covers about 20332 towns and villages in the state.

'M-Pesa', the telecom major's mobile money transfer and payment service has more than 36000 subscribers and provide services through 1824 agents. Vodafone has also partnered with state Panchayati Raj department to implement the first of its kind, mobile based disbursement of wages to workers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). This pilot project is being implemented in two blocks namely Hinjilikatu and Chikiti in Ganjam district.

On providing 3G services in the state, Murthy said, at the time of opening of spectrum for providing 3G services, it was not feasible in the state. Reliance, Aircel and BSNL are the other players who are providing 3G services in the state.

The telecom player has more than 1100 enterprise clients on board.