Vodafone calm over RIL's 4G call

Vodafone global chief Vittorio Colao has exuded confidence saying he is not worried about imminent competition from Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio, which is expected to launch 4G services soon.
He also appeared more upbeat on the Indian market following the change of government at the Centre, with the NDA-led dispensation taking charge.
“I am less schizophrenic now.I am more optimistic," he told journalists, while warning that the political will needs to translate into action soon.
But, when it came to settling the tax dispute, the Vodafone group CEO was more reserved. Asked if Vodafone can enter into an agreement with the government directly on the tax issue, he said, “You can never rule out anything in an arbitration process because it is a mechanism for finding a private solution to the dispute. So, nothing can be ruled out."
Vodafone is facing a tax liability of over Rs 11,000 crore along with interest on its 2007 acquisition of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa's stake in India's telecom major Hutchison Essar.
When asked about Reliance's entry and the threat which it may post to Vodafone, which did not bid for 4G licence, Colao said the company was seeing significant growth in 3G data services.
“I wish Reliance all success and I am not worried by its entry . We will be good competitors. You can already do most things on 3G...our commercial success proves, we are right (in our strategy).“
Colao, who promised more investment in the Indian arm in the coming weeks, said the company is open to consolidation but ruled out an immediate listing in the wake of several regulatory uncertainty as well as the price at which it will buy auction in the next round.
“We are open to looking at consolidation in India but of course, it must make sense from a financial point of view... we can't throw our money just for the sake of consolidation... I am not obsessed with buying in India because we are doing very well the way we are,“ Vittorio Colao e said.
The Vodafone Group CEO, however, added that that ideally there should be four-five players in the market.
In the past there have been reports about the Vodafone group being in talks with the Tata group to acquire its mobile business but Colao refused to comment on the issue.