Vodafone Essar to launch 3G services by year-end

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Vodafone
Essar  has secured 3G spectrum in  9 circles in the just
concluded 3G auctions for a total price of Rs. 11,617 crore.

These circles - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai & Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra & Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (East) and West
Bengal - cover over 60% of the Company's current customer base.

Marten Pieters, CEO & MD, Vodafone Essar, said: "Vodafone Essar
has secured a critical strategic footprint across the country,
particularly in the markets where we expect the main demand for 3G
services to be in the next few years. We are excited to be able to
offer 3G services to our customers and aim to launch the services
before the end of the year.  We expect a strong uptake for 3G in
these markets particularly among the higher value customers, which is a
growing segment owing to rising affluence and increasing urban
population. We also note with interest that a significant proportion of
our customer base in these markets already has a 3G enabled
device.  We will continue to offer country-wide data services
based on our extensive 2.5G networks."