Increase in spectrum caps will further hasten the rollout of networks, says Vodafone CEO

India has significantly increased the amount of spectrum which is now available to operators and the proposed increase in spectrum caps will further hasten the rollout of networks to the benefit of customers, government and industry, said Vodafone Group chief executive Vittorio Colao.

Within the telecom sector specifically, Colao said "India has significantly increased the amount of spectrum which is now available to operators and the proposed the increase in spectrum caps will further hasten the rollout of networks to the benefit of customers, government, and industry.

He also complimented India and Prime Minister Modi's government for a marked improvement in the ease of doing business in the country during the last four years, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Governors meeting in Davos.

"The focus of PM Modi's government and India's new progressive policy framework are ensuring their successful execution. India's enhanced economic liberalization will bring more international investment into its growing economy, which will, in turn, generate exciting opportunities and boost job creation," Colao added.

Simplicity and transparency are keys to the reforms introduced and this has been recognized by the significant improvement in India's position in the Ease of Doing Business global rankings. The swift progress we have made in just under a year towards the completion of our merger with Idea Cellular is the testimony to this fresh approach. India has a clear set of well-defined M&A rules and we are seeing their fair and speedy implementation", said Colao.

He pointed out that, "Digital India and Make in India are transformational initiatives. The focus of Prime Minister Modi's government and India's new progressive policy framework are ensuring their successful execution. India's enhanced economic liberalization will bring more international investment into its growing economy, which will, in turn, generate exciting opportunities and boost job creation."

Since starting operations in India in 2007 it has invested over Rs 134,700 crore in India and contributed over Rs 143,000cr to the Indian exchequer as at 31 March 2017. Vodafone's India business, in addition to being the highest contributor to Vodafone Group's service revenue growth, has the largest customer base (over 210 million customers) and the largest data traffic market (by volume).