Vodafone Idea to roll out 5G is 90 more cities by May
This story was originally published at 14:52 IST on 30 March 2026
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NEW DELHI – Debt-ridden telecommunications operator Vodafone Idea Ltd. Monday said it will roll out fifth-generation telecom services in 90 more cities by the end of May. Currently, it offers 5G services in 43 cities across 17 priority circles.
"As part of this phase, Vi plans to expand its 5G coverage in 15 circles including Mumbai, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Chattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, UP-East (Eastern Uttar Pradesh), UP-West (Western Uttar Pradesh), Kolkata and West Bengal, prioritising key markets, including industrial corridors, high data consumption centres, and emerging urban clusters," the company said in a press release.
Vodafone Idea has been lagging behind peers Bharti Airtel Ltd. and Reliance Industries Ltd.'s Reliance Jio Infocomm, when it comes to 5G internet connectivity. This is primarily because of its mounting debt, which has capped the company's ability to increase its 5G footprint at a rapid pace. "As on December 31, 2025, total bank debt stood at (about) 1,126 crore (INR 11.26 billion), while GoI (government of India) obligations towards spectrum and AGR (adjusted gross revenue) liabilities payable over time were substantially large at (about) 1.94 lakh crore (INR 1.94 trillion)," according to CareEdge Ratings.
Vodafone Idea had incurred a capital expenditure of INR 95.70 billion in the financial year 2024-25 (Apr-Mar) and had pencilled in a capital expenditure of INR 80 billion for FY26. It has raised INR 220 billion in equity since March 2024. This includes INR 180 billion raised through a follow-on public offering and the balance through promoter contributions.
For the December quarter, on a consolidated basis, Vodafone Idea had reported a net loss of INR 52.86 billion on a revenue of INR 113.23 billion. At 1434 IST, its shares were down 3.2% at INR 8.61 on the National Stock Exchange. End
IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT
Reported by Anand JC
Edited by Rajeev Pai
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