Vodafone Essar is set to push into the enterprise fixed-line space in India, the country’s Economic Times newspaper says. The operator is set to increase its focus on offering business services in order to offset tough competition in its core consumer mobile business. According to the paper, Naveen Chopra, director of its Enterprise and Carrier business, noted that “we are a late entrant in the business, but that puts us in an advantageous position of nothing to lose.” It was suggested that by the financial year to March 2016, enterprise services will generate around 20 percent of Vodafone’s Indian revenue. Vodafone Essar’s parent, Vodafone Group, has also been increasing its presence in the enterprise services market, with its Vodafone Global Enterprise business recording a 6 percent increase in revenue from this business in the quarter to 31 December 2010.

According to the paper, Chopra also said that Vodafone Essar is also in the process of trialling its 3G network, with the intention of starting commercial service launches “by March.” The rollouts will take place on a city-by-city basis, rather than being focused on specific regions or with a simultaneous nationwide launch. This fits with earlier reports that the company is planning a Q1 2011 launch for its 3G services, which also stated that it is in talks with its rivals about deals to provide coverage in areas where it does not hold suitable spectrum. Several competing operators are currently in the process of launching 3G services in India.