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Editor's Notes

• #2: Vodafone India Type Private Industry Telecommunications Predecessors Hutchison Essar Limited Headquarters Peninsula Corporate Park, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India[1] Services Mobile telephony Wireless broadband Parent Vodafone Group Website www.vodafone.in Vodafone India Limited, formerly Vodafone Essar Limited, is the second largest mobile network operator in India after Airtel by subscriber base. It is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.[2] It has approximately 160 million customers as of December 2013. It offers both prepaid and postpaid GSM cellular phone coverage throughout India with good presence in the metros. Vodafone India provides 2.75G services based on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz digital GSM technology. Vodafone India launched 3G services in the country in the January–March quarter of 2011 and plans to spend up to $500 million within two years on its 3G networks.[3] Vodafone added maximum subscribers in July 2014, with 13.6 lakh new users joining its network to take its base to 17.12 crore. Vodafone is the second largest player in telecom operator in India after Airtel, with a market share of 22.95%.
• #4: M-Pesa (M for mobile, pesa is Swahili for money) is a mobile-phone based money transfer and microfinancing service, launched in 2007 by Vodafone for Safaricom and Vodacom, the largest mobile network operators in Kenya and Tanzania.[1] It has since expanded to Afghanistan, South Africa, India and in 2014 to Eastern Europe. M-Pesa allows users with a national ID card or passport to deposit, withdraw, and transfer money easily with a mobile device.[2] M-Pesa is operated by Safaricom and Vodacom, mobile network operators (MNO) not classed as deposit-taking institutions, such as a bank. M-Pesa customers can deposit and withdraw money from a network of agents that includes airtime resellers and retail outlets acting as banking agents. The service enables its users to: deposit and withdraw money transfer money to other users and non-users pay bills purchase airtime[14][15] and transfer money between the service and, in some markets like Kenya, a bank account.[16] A partnership with Kenya-based Equity Bank launched M-KESHO, a product using M-PESA’s platform and agent network, that offers expanded banking services like interest-bearing accounts, loans, and insurance.[17] The user interface technology of M-Pesa differs between Safaricom of Kenya and Vodacom of Tanzania, although the underlying platform is the same. While Safaricom uses SIM toolkit (STK) to provide handset menus for accessing the service, Vodacom relies mostly on USSD to provide users with menus, but also supports STK.[18] India M-Pesa, was launched in India[34][35] as a close partnership with HDFC bank in November 2011.[36] Development for the bank began as early as 2008. The service continues to operate in a limited geographical area in India. Vodafone India had partnered with both HDFC and ICICI bank,[37] ICICI launched M-Pesa on 18 April 2013.[38] Vodafone plans to rollout this service throughout India.[39] The user needs to register for this service by paying 200 Rupees and there are charges levied per M-Pesa transaction.[40][41]
• #6: Vodafone India's 'e-Mamta' initiative, a mother-child tracking programme, in association with the government of Gujarat, has helped in reducing the infant mortality rate in the state.The infant mortality rate in the state has reduced by 4 base points to 44 points compared to 48 points earlier. Recognising its contribution, 'e-Mamta' has been conferred the Golden Peacock Award for product/service in telecommunication category. For the Gujarat state Rural Health Mission's e-Mamta Mother - Child tracking system, Vodafone developed a voice-based closed user group (CUG) service and provided 42,000 Sim cards to Ashas (Accredited Social Health Activist), Doctors and Health workers. Ashas workers engage with the expectant mothers, collect health related data of all community members in their allocated areas and feed it into a centralised system, which is programmed to send updates to all Ashas and mothers on their mobile. Thus there is regular monitoring of health status of mothers and infants.
• #7: Education – Our approach We are exploring ways to use mobile technology to extend access to education and offer a positive and interactive learning environment for children and adults studying remotely. Education is critical to people’s future prospects, yet many living in rural areas of emerging markets never even enter the education system. Our focus on mobile education is still in its early stages but we see potential for mobile technology to improve people’s learning prospects and teacher–student engagement in emerging markets. As well as providing opportunities for our business, this is one of the ways Vodafone can contribute to the UN Millennium Development Goals. In 2012/13, we partnered with specialist education organisations to explore two new learning solutions in India, our biggest market, where a third of children never enter the education system, one in four adults are illiterate and most qualified teachers are concentrated in urban areas. With almost a third of Indians who access the internet doing so via a Vodafone mobile connection, we are well-positioned to improve access to education in this way. Read on to find out more about our approach and our performance in 2012/13. Learning with Vodafone in schools English language lessons via mobile phone Learning with Vodafone in schools Our ‘Learning with Vodafone’ service, being implemented by the Vodafone India Foundation, and developed in partnership with Pratham Education Foundation, aims to improve the standard of education for schoolchildren in India by using innovative software and mobile internet to train teachers and help them engage students using interactive learning materials and multi-media content. The service makes education more accessible to students wherever they are using mobile phones, tablets or the Vodafone WebBox (a low-cost internet-enabled device that connects to a television). Together with Pratham, we provide all the necessary equipment and learning materials, and train teachers to use the service. Learning with Vodafone provides access to digital educational content aligned with the prescribed curriculum. It includes multiple choice tests that can be completed via SMS text message and a notification service enabling teachers to check understanding of the content and keep parents informed of their children’s progress. Teachers can also track attendance, grades and administrative requirements using the accompanying school management system. Following a successful pilot in 150 schools across the state of Karnataka in 2011/12, Learning with Vodafone is being extended across three more regions in India. Nine out of 10 teachers involved in the pilot believed their students performed better and were more involved in the class. With funding from the Vodafone Foundation, the programme aims to introduce Learning with Vodafone at 1,000 schools by 2015, reaching 50,000 children. back to top English language lessons via mobile phone In India, being able to speak English can help people get a job and increase their earning power. Those fluent in English earn up to four times more than non-English speakers. In 2012/13, we launched ‘Hello to English’ with education provider Pearson in Haryana and Uttah Pradesh, India. This service enables people in remote and rural areas to use any basic mobile phone as a ‘virtual classroom’ to learn basic English language skills and achieve a level of proficiency for business use. It is aimed primarily at young adults, particularly those who never had the opportunity to attend or finish school. The virtual classroom cuts the cost and time needed to travel to a classroom. Students can learn in bite-sized sessions at a time that suits them and pay the fee of 1,945 Rupees (around US$36) over seven instalments, improving accessibility for people on low incomes. Starting with a Pearson text book in the student’s local language and English, the course includes self-study exercises and pre-recorded messages with instructors leading learning. Students interact with teachers in real time, talking to them on the phone and receiving tests via SMS text messages to check their understanding. Teachers start and manage classes through an online platform and the SMS tests enable them to track students’ progress. On completion of the course, students receive certification marking their achievement that they can use to help them gain employment. The service was first introduced in February 2013 and the full-scale rollout in India aims to train 250,000 students in the first year.
• #9: In a first of its kind in the country, Vodafone India on Tuesday announced the launch of ‘Angel Stores’, retail outlets run only by women employees, in Ahmedabad and Vadodara Calling it a s step towards women’s empowerment, the company said these outlets would be managed and run completely by women employees. This initiative is in line with Vodafone’s endeavour of encouraging diversity and inclusion at workplace. Women will run services like security, pantry, customer service and management, Brajesh Bajpai, Business Head, Gujarat Circle said.