Vodafone is interested in acquiring assets of other telecom companies in India, including spectrum and fibre, to get pan- India footprint for data services.
Vodafone currently does not have 3G and 4G spectrum in all the 22 circles putting it as a disadvantage compared to other players such as Airtel and Reliance Jio.
Speaking on the side lines of the Mobile World Congress, Vodafone India CEO Marten Pieters said, “We need more spectrum. I don’t have 3G in all circles. We also need more spectrum for LTE (4G technology). Assets like fibre in metros is expensive so existing assets have a value.”
Pieters said the outcome of the recently concluded auction has made it clear that telecom companies with deep pockets will survive.
“There are only a few who can stay. This auction has set the boys apart from the men. We know EBIDTA of some of companies are negative that’s not good for them in the long term.”
While Vodafone along with Airtel, Reliance Jio and Idea Cellular had emerged strong winners in the recently concluded auction, other players such as Tata Teleservices, Reliance Communications and Aircel struggled to acquire much airwaves.
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