Vodafone Idea (Vi) is significantly expanding its 5G network coverage in India, bringing its next-generation services to 23 additional cities. This move follows initial 5G launches in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Patna. The expansion aims to enhance connectivity and digital access across a broader geographical base in the country.
The 23 newly covered cities include major state capitals and urban centers such as Jaipur, Kolkata, and Lucknow. The full list of cities includes Ahmedabad, Agra, Aurangabad, Kozhikode, Kochi, Dehradun, Indore, Madurai, Malappuram, Meerut, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, Rajkot, Sonepat, Surat, Siliguri, Thiruvananthapuram, Vadodara, and Visakhapatnam. The rollout in these cities will be phased, with services becoming available as network deployment progresses.
Vi has acquired 5G spectrum in 17 out of the 22 telecom circles in India, demonstrating its commitment to expanding 5G connectivity despite facing financial and operational challenges. The company has also been working on strengthening its 4G network, deploying 4G services on the 900 MHz band at approximately 65,000 sites to improve coverage and indoor connectivity. Additionally, Vi has added over 56,000 sites on the 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and TDD bands, resulting in a 35% improvement in overall 4G data capacity and a 26% increase in average 4G speeds. To further enhance its network infrastructure, Vi plans to install 1 lakh new mobile towers over the next six months.
To encourage adoption, Vi is offering unlimited 5G data on prepaid and postpaid plans starting at ₹299. Vi offers a range of 5G-enabled prepaid and postpaid plans. Prepaid options start at ₹299 and offer 1GB of data per day for 28 days, while ₹349 and ₹365 plans include 1.5GB and 2GB of daily data, respectively. For long-term users, the ₹3,599 plan provides 2GB daily data for 365 days. Postpaid customers can choose from Vi Max plans starting at ₹451, with options priced at ₹551 and ₹751 offering up to 150GB of monthly data. Vi is currently the only telecom provider in India to offer unlimited 5G on plans with under 2GB of daily data.
Vi has been deploying energy-efficient 5G infrastructure and AI-powered Self-Organizing Networks (SON) to improve network performance and reduce environmental impact. Vi is using a 5G Non-StandAlone (NSA) architecture, ensuring smooth transitions between 4G and 5G for users' seamless experience.
5G technology offers significantly faster data speeds compared to 4G. 5G is up to 10 times faster than 4G, designed to operate at average speeds of 150-200Mbps, with peak speeds reaching over 1Gbps. In comparison, 4G typically operates at average speeds of 23-35Mbps. With 5G, users can experience virtually no lag time, which enhances various applications such as gaming and augmented reality. It also can handle a large number of people and devices accessing the network simultaneously, even in crowded areas.
