Vodafone - From Fiction to Reality

VISION, according to the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, is defined variously, but cardinal among them is one describing it as "the ability to perceive what is likely, and plan wisely for it; the ability to foresee something or an event." To many, especially in the area of business practice, the ability to operate a visionary managerial strategy is key to developing a high end, profitable entity, with the capacity to achieving a definite goal. This is slightly aligned to Frederick Winslow Taylor's (The Father of Scientific Management) approach to find the "one best way" to increase worker efficiency.

The founders of Vodafone had their eyes firmly on the future, when they envisaged the business. They had a VISION! They were so enthusiastic about mobile telecommunications that they forecast that one-day people would do more than talk over their phones! Twenty-five years down the line, after Sir Gerald Whent, Chairman of the Racal Radio Group, convinced his colleagues to bid for the first private sector UK cellular license, we have "PROOF" of a name that embraces voice and data: VOice and DAta phone communications (Vodafone).

Vodafone has indeed come an incredibly long way since 1982. Having been spun off from the Racal Radio Group, the Vodafone Group has transformed itself in the last six years, from a virtually unknown small UK-based company, into the world's largest wireless and mobile-phone operator.

It sounded like science fiction then, but today, just some few years later, we have the world's number one telecommunications company and the 11th Most Powerful Brand in the world. Besides, mobile phones have become everyday must-have products that are constant working tools in the hands of nearly everybody you meet these days. Consequently, Vodafone, unlike any other telecommunications company on earth, has 290 million subscribers in 29 countries, and ranked among the top ten global companies by market capitalisation. Its main products and services include network business, distribution business, retail shops, data-services business, short message service (SMS), multi-media portal, third-generation licenses and cellular operations . The company's goal is to be the communications leader in an increasingly connected world.

From a status symbol for the few, to "must-have" of many, the mobile phone has come very far, over a very short time. The first handsets were bulky, barely mobile, and expensive, offering little functionality other than voice.

Estimates have it that 40 per cent of the world's population will own a mobile phone by the end of 2009. Sales are estimated to hit one billion annually, and plans to transform phones into payment devices, have been pioneered with huge success by Vodafone in Kenya under the M-PESA brand. Thereafter, the pace has been copiously implemented by other industry players.

In 25 years, Vodafone has grown, with presence in many countries than any other mobile operator, and that gives it the competitive edge described as GLOBAL SCALE and SCOPE.

Because it is in many countries, that is 26 operating companies and 40 partner networks in five continents, Vodafone is able to do much more than any other, for its customers and staff.

On the social responsibility front, Vodafone is well known the world over, to be touching and improving the lives of communities we operate in, and have donated GBP38.1 million to charitable causes worldwide in 2005/2006, through the Vodafone Foundation, the charity arm of the company.

Vodafone has arrived in Ghana, and in no time, will add to the growing numbers of over eleven million mobile subscribers.

Described as the Red Company, it has a restless attitude, and is passionate about quality.

Vittorio Colao, Vodafone Group's Chief Executive, recently said emerging markets still offered opportunities to mobile phone operators, despite the global economic crisis.

"Emerging markets still offer us vast potential for growth, despite the fact that growth will slow down."

According to the UN, two thirds of the world's cell phone subscriptions are in developing nations, with the highest growth rate in Africa.

As Vodafone formally enters the Ghana telecom market, we can say that you are about to experience the ULTIMATE in mobile, fixed and internet service in Ghana!

David Venn, CEO Vodafone Ghana, has reassured all Ghanaians that, " you should expect nothing less than calls that last as long as you wish without losing signal; dialing and connecting first time, instead of bearing the frustration of having to repeatedly redial; and making calls that are crystal clear without static. Experience the network that works. It's your time!"

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