Pune, May 11, 2009: Vodafone Essar, one of India’s leading cellular services providers today, launched Vodafone ‘GappaGoshti’ for prepaid customers in rural markets of Maharashtra and Goa. Vodafone GappaGoshti is a pack which allows Vodafone prepaid customers in villages to form the GappaGoshti community and discuss business, market trends, stay connected with family, near and dear ones at just 30paise/minute. Existing customers can recharge with the Rs 101 paper voucher, while new customers can enjoy this offer with Rs 101 Vodafone Prepaid Card. Once purchased, any regular talk time recharge option can be used with Vodafone GappaGoshti. Vodafone customers can talk at 30paise/min within the GappaGoshti community. This pack comes with lifetime validity and will be available at retail outlets across villages in Maharashtra and Goa except Mumbai. Speaking at the launch B.P. Singh, CEO, Vodafone Essar Maharashtra & Goa, said “Vodafone’s new product, ‘GappaGoshti’ is a unique offering to the rural population keeping in mind affordability, accessibility and customization to their requirements. It is an innovative product designed to suit the needs of the market and create a long term association with the rural markets of India”. About Vodafone Essar Vodafone Essar is the Indian subsidiary of 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 68.76 million customers**. Over the years, Vodafone Essar, under the Hutch brand, has been named the ‘Most Respected Telecom Company’, the ‘Best Mobile Service in the country’ and the ‘Most Creative and Most Effective Advertiser of the Year’. Vodafone Group is the world’s leading international mobile communications corporation. It currently has equity interests in 27 countries across 5 continents and 40 partner networks with over 289 million proportionate customers worldwide. The Essar Group is Vodafone’s principal partner in India. The Essar Group is a diversified business corporation with a balanced portfolio of assets in the manufacturing and services sectors of Steel, Energy, Power, Communications, Shipping Ports & Logistics, and Projects. Essar employs more than 50,000 people across offices in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. **Figures from Cellular Operators Association of India, March 31, 2009 For more information, contact: Nida Paloba Genesis Burson-Marsteller Vodafone mobile no. : +91 98190 38428 Email:nida.paloba@bm.com Site: http://www.vodafone.in/