Vodafone on growth trajectory in UP enterprise segment

Telecom major Vodafone is bullish on the enterprise sector in Uttar Pradesh, home to over 3 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The data (browsing revenues) have grown by 92 percent year-on-year for Vodafone.

Enterprises are provided value-added propositions, apart from plain voice and data services as against retail customers. They are clubbed under post-paid category.

“Post-paid customers account for eight-nine per cent of total customers. Of this, the enterprise segment accounts for almost 35 per cent and continues to grow fast,” UP (East) circle business head, Pankaj Thapliyal, said here on Tuesday.

Besides, the data segment is also on a growth trajectory, although it accounts for only four-five per cent of total revenues at present.

Vodafone posted revenues of about Rs 2,700 crore in the circle last financial year and is growing by nine per cent.

Currently, the company has a subscriber base of over 15 million in the circle, holding 27 per cent of the revenue market share.

“We have 8,500 cell sites in UP (East), which would be further increased as and when required for seamless connectivity and services,” he informed. Over 1,600 of the sites support 3G services, which are being offered in 41 cities/towns.

Meanwhile, the company is planning to increase its number of ‘Angel stores’, which are outlets exclusively manned by women personnel. “We have one Angel store in Lucknow and plan to open another such outlet in all the 6 zonal centres in the circle,” he added.

Vodafone offers mobile-wallet (m-wallet) service under ‘m-pesa’. The service allows cellphone users remit money to any mobile phone/bank account, pay bills, recharge mobile, shop and for e-commerce.