Vodafone India to invest Rs 4,000-6,000 crore every year

Vodafone India to invest Rs 4,000-6,000 crore every yearThe Indian arm of British telecom giant Vodafone has announced its plans to invest Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 6,000 crore every year on further expanding its capacity in India.

Vodafone India's Managing Director & Chief Executive Marten Pieters said the company would continue making investments in India. But, he added that investments would depend on new spectrum licences and extension of its existing licences.

Rvealing the plans, Pieters said, "We see every year investment level of around anything between Rs 4,000 and 6,000 crore that we have done in last (few) years. On top of that Rs 11,500 crore is what we paid for 3G spectrum. You can expect that (this) level at least will be sustained."

Since its entry into the India telecom market, Vodafone has invested Rs 55,000 crore. Vodafone entered India in 2007 by purchasing Hutchison Whampoa's local cellular assets for $11 billion.

The company's licences are due to expire in three circles, viz. Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. To regain licences, the will have to bid for spectrum in the upcoming auction, which is expected to take place in January 2014.

Vodafone India has nearly 154 million subscribers. In terms of market share, it has 18 per cent of the Indian mobile market, which is fifth biggest contributor to Vodafone Plc's total revenues.