Vodafone Group Plc sees opportunity in new government initiatives

NEW DELHI: Indian arm of UK telecom major Vodafone Group Plc is viewing the government’s Digital India and Smart City initiatives as big business opportunities it could tap in partnership with central, state governments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious umbrella programme Digital India to deliver government services digitally through broadband has a 2018 deadline and is projected to initially cost Rs 1,13,000 crore. It would include broadband highways connecting every nook and corner of India, public Internet access and electronic delivery of services such as healthcare, education and entertainment.