Vodafone Group plc/vodfon/is a Britishmultinationaltelecommunications company headquartered inLondonand with its registered office inNewbury, Berkshire.[2]It is theworld's 2nd-largest mobile telecommunications companymeasured by both subscribers and 2013 revenues (in each case behindChina Mobile), and had 434 million subscribers as of 31 March 2014.[3]Vodafone owns and operates networks in 21 countries and has partner networks in over 40 additional countries.[4]ItsVodafone Global Enterprisedivision provides telecommunications and IT services to corporate clients in over 65 countries.Vodafone has a primary listing on theLondon Stock Exchangeand is a constituent of theFTSE 100 Index. It had amarket capitalisationof approximately 89.1billion as of 6 July 2012, the third-largest of any company listed on the London Stock Exchange.[5]It has a secondary listing onNASDAQ.

Vodafone India is a member of the Vodafone Group and commenced operations in 1994 when its predecessor Hutchison Telecom acquired the cellular license for Mumbai. The company now has operations across the country with over 150 million customers. Vodafone India has firmly established a strong position within the Vodafone Group too, making it the largest subscriber base globally. This journey is a strong testimony of Vodafones success in a highly competitive and price sensitive market.Vodafone India has been awarded the Most Admired Telecom Operator and Best 3G Operator at the recent Telecom Operator Awards 2012. The company has also received the globally recognized prestigious Product of the Year 2012 consumer award for Vodafone Apps Store in the Mobile Services Category. In another survey conducted by Nielsen, Vodafone India was the only telecom player in the Top 10 Most Exciting Youth Brands in India. Vodafone India also features in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands in India for 2011, in a survey conducted by a leading financial daily.Serving the needs of an enterprise, Vodafone Business Solutions is a total communications offering that caters to all their voice and data, wireless and Fixed-line requirements. With the advantage of global expertise and experience and the knowledge of local markets, the business is run through the following verticals Vodafone Global Enterprise, SME division, National corporate and key accounts. Since its inception, Vodafone Business Solutions has garnered over 3 million corporate customers in India and currently provides services to over 6000 Global and national accounts equipped with a robust and superior network infrastructure and a 24x7 NOC. Vodafone has been recently awarded the'Enterprise Mobile Service Provider of the Year' at the 2012 Frost & Sullivan India ICT Awards.At Vodafone, sustainability is an integral part of the companys mission and strategy, shaping the conduct of business everyday. Vodafone India, in line with its group philosophy has released the Corporate Sustainability Report for India Footprints 2010-11.

Vodafone Group is one of the world's largest mobile communications companies by revenue with over 398 million customers as at December 31, 2011. Vodafone currently has equity interests in over 30 countries across five continents and more than 40 partner networks worldwide.

History[edit]The evolution of 'Vodafone' brand started in 1982 with the establishment of 'Racal Strategic Radio Ltd' subsidiary ofRacal Electronics plc UK's largest maker of military radio technology. By initiative ofJan Stenbeck[7]Racal Strategic Radio Ltd formed a joint venture withMillicomcalled 'Racal Vodafone', which would later evolve into the present day Vodafone.[8][9][10]Evolution as a Racal Telecom brand: 1980 to 1991[edit]In 1980,Sir Ernest Harrison OBE, the then chairman of Racal Electronics plc. agreed to a deal withLord WeinstockofGeneral Electric Company plcto allow Racal to access some of GEC's tactical battle field radio technology. The head of Racal's military radio division Gerry Whentwas briefed by Ernest Harrison to drive the company into commercial mobile radio. Whent visited GEs mobile radio factory inVirginia, USA the same year to understand the commercial use of military radio technology.[11]Previously in 1979, Jan Stenbeck, a head of a growing Swedish conglomerate, set up an American company, Millicom, Inc., to pursue mobile communications by applying for licences in the United States.[12]In the summer of 1982, Stenbeck approached Racals Whent about bidding jointly for the UKs second cellular radio licence, soon to be awarded, the first going by prior arrangement to British Telecom.[12]The two struck a deal giving Racal 60% of the new company, Racal-Millicom, Ltd, and Millicom 40%. Due to UK concerns about foreign ownership, the terms were revised, and in December 1982, the Racal-Milicom partnership was awarded the second UK mobile phone network license.[12]Final ownership of Racal-Millicom, Ltd was 80% Racal, with Millicom holding 15% plus royalties and venture firm Hambros Technology Trust holding 5%. According to the UK Secretary of State for Industry, "the bid submitted by Racal-Millicom Ltd provided the best prospect for early national coverage by cellular radio."[13]Vodafone was launched on 1 January 1985 under the new name, Racal-Vodafone (Holdings) Ltd,[14]with its first office based in the Courtyard inNewbury, Berkshire, and[15]shorty thereafter Racal Strategic Radio was renamed Racal Telecommunications Group Limited.[16]On 29 December 1986, Racal Electronics bought out the minority shareholders of Vodafone for GB110million;[17]and Vodafone became a fully owned brand of Racal.In September 1988, the company was again renamed Racal Telecom. On 26 October 1988, Racal Telecom, majority held by Racal Electronics; went public on theLondon Stock Exchangewith 20% of its stock floated. The successful flotation led to a situation where the Racal's stake in Racal Telecom was valued more than the whole of Racal Electronics. Under stock market pressure to realise full value for shareholders of Racal, Harrison decides in 1991 to demerge Racal Telecom.[18][19]Vodafone Group, then Vodafone Airtouch plc: 1991 to 2000[edit]On 16 September 1991, Racal Telecom was demerged from Racal Electronics asVodafone Group,[20]with Gerry Whent as its CEO.In July 1996, Vodafone acquired the two thirds of Talkland it did not already own for 30.6million.[21]On 19 November 1996, in a defensive move, Vodafone purchasedPeoples Phonefor 77million, a 181 store chain whose customers were overwhelmingly using Vodafone's network.[22]In a similar move the company acquired the 80% of Astec Communications that it did not own, a service provider with 21 stores.[23]In January 1997, Gerald Whent retired and Christopher Gent took over as the CEO. The same year, Vodafone introduced itsSpeechmarklogo, composed of aquotation markin a circle, with the O's in the Vodafone logotype representing opening and closing quotation marks and suggesting conversation.On 29 June 1999, Vodafone completed its purchase ofAirTouch Communications, Inc.and changed its name toVodafone Airtouch plc. The merged company commenced trading on 30 June 1999.[24]In order to gain anti-trust approval for the merger, Vodafone sold its 17.2% stake inE-Plus Mobilfunk.[25]The acquisition gave Vodafone a 35% share ofMannesmann, owner of the largest German mobile network.On 21 September 1999, Vodafone agreed to merge its U.S. wireless assets with those ofBell Atlantic Corpto formVerizon Wireless.[26]The merger was completed on 4 April 2000, just a few months prior to Bell Atlantic's merger withGTEto form Verizon Communications, Inc.In November 1999, Vodafone made an unsolicited bid forMannesmann, which was rejected. Vodafone's interest in Mannesmann had been increased by the latter purchase ofOrange, the UK mobile operator.[27]Chris Gent would later say Mannesmann's move into the UK broke a "gentleman's agreement" not to compete in each other's home territory.[28]The hostile takeover provoked strong protest in Germany, and a "titanic struggle" which saw Mannesmann resist Vodafone's efforts. However, on 3 February 2000, the Mannesmann board agreed to an increased offer of 112billion, then the largest corporate merger ever.[28]TheEUapproved the merger in April 2000 when Vodafone agreed to divest the 'Orange' brand, which was acquired in May 2000 byFrance Tlcom. The conglomerate was subsequently broken up and all manufacturing related operations sold off.Vodafone Group plc: 2000 to present[edit]On 28 July 2000, the Company reverted to its former name,Vodafone Group plc.In 2001, the Company acquiredEircell, the largest wireless communications company in Ireland, fromeircom.[29]Eircell was subsequently rebranded asVodafone Ireland. Vodafone then went on to acquire Japan's third-largest mobile operator J-Phone, which had introduced camera phones first in Japan.[30]On 17 December 2001, Vodafone introduced the concept of "Partner Networks", by signingTDCMobil of Denmark. The new concept involved the introduction of Vodafone international services to the local market, without the need of investment by Vodafone. The concept would be used to extend the Vodafone brand and services into markets where it does not have stakes in local operators. Vodafone services would be marketed under the dual-brand scheme, where the Vodafone brand is added at the end of the local brand. (i.e., TDC Mobil-Vodafone etc.)[31]In 2007, Vodafone entered into a title sponsorship deal with theMcLarenFormula One team, which traded as "Vodafone McLaren Mercedes" until the sponsorship ended at the end of the 2013 season.[32][33]In May 2011, Vodafone Group Plc bought the remaining shares ofVodafone Essarfrom Essar Group Ltd for $5billion.[34]On 1 December 2011, it acquired theReadingbased Bluefish Communications Ltd anICTconsultancy company.[35]The acquired operations formed the nucleus of a new Unified Communications and Collaboration practice within its subsidiary Vodafone Global Enterprise,[35]which will focus on implementing strategies and solutions incloud computing, and strengthen itsprofessional servicesoffering.In April 2012, Vodafone announced an agreement to acquireCable & Wireless Worldwide(CWW) for 1.04 billion.[36]Vodafone was advised byUBS AG, whileBarclaysandRothschildadvised Cable & Wireless.[36]The acquisition will give Vodafone access to CWW'sfibre networkfor businesses, enabling it to takeunified communicationssolutions to large enterprises in UK and globally; and expand its enterprise service offerings in emerging markets. On 18 June 2012, Cable & Wireless' shareholders voted in favour of the Vodafone offer, exceeding the 75% of shares necessary for the deal to go ahead.[37][38]On 24 June 2013, Vodafone announced it would be buying German cable companyKabel Deutschland. The takeover is valued at 7.7 billion, and was recommended over the bid of rivalLiberty Global.[39]On 2 September 2013, Vodafone announced it would be selling its 45% stake inVerizon WirelesstoVerizon Communicationsfor $130 billion, in one of the biggest deals in corporate history.[40]In October 2013, Vodafone began its rollout of4Gto provincial New Zealand, with the launch of the system in holiday hotspots around Coromandel.[41]In February 2014, Vodafone made an offer to acquireSpains largest cable operator,ONO, in a deal rumoured to be around 7 billion.[42]