London: Vodafone has signed up more than 100 million mobile phone subscribers in India, as the battle for the world's fastest-growing telecoms market heats up ahead of the auction of the latest 3G licences in the country.
Vodafone Essar, which is 67 per cent-owned by Vodafone, is the third Indian operator after local companies Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications, to pass the 100 million mark after entering into a fierce price war to win customers.
Saturation Point
Telecoms companies are increasingly targeting emerging markets as dev-eloped nations approach a saturation point. More than half of the Indian population still do not own a mobile phone, compared with fewer than 10 per cent in developed countries.
Vodafone's Indian business had just 28 million when it entered the market with the purchase of Hutchison's majority stake in the operator for $11.1 billion (Dh40.7 billion) in 2007.
The licences are expected to sell for £5.2 billion. Nine operators, including Vodafone Essar, Bharti and Reliance, are expected to enter the bidding.
