Vodafone Idea (Vi) is gearing up to introduce its 5G services in India within the next 6-7 months. The company's executive also hinted at imminent revelations regarding the pricing of 5G plans from rivals Airtel and Reliance Jio. Here are the details.
Quick comparison between Jio, Vi, Airtel annual plans
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 31, 2024 19:26 IST
Vodafone Idea (Vi) is gearing up to introduce its 5G services in India within the next 6-7 months, marking a significant step in the competitive telecom landscape. Though, it is a bit late to the party because its rivals have already offered 5G services all over the country. The announcement was made during the company's third-quarter earnings call by Vi's Chief Executive, Akshaya Moondra, who also hinted at imminent revelations regarding the pricing of 5G plans from rivals Airtel and Reliance Jio, according to Economic Times. Here are the details.
Vodafone Idea to finally launch 5G in India, company confirms
Moondra conveyed Vi's commitment to launching 5G services, stating, "We are looking to launch 5G services in about 6-to-7 months." However, specific details about Vi's 5G rollout plans remain pending, contingent on the completion of its ongoing fundraising initiatives. He revealed that the company is in talks with technology partners to finalize its strategy for the 5G rollout in the country.
But, it is worth mentioning that its rivals, Jio and Airtel, are quite ahead in the 5G race. Jio has already completed its nationwide 5G rollout, while Airtel aims to achieve the same by March 2024.
Besides, Vi has taken strategic measures to streamline its services, including the shutdown of 3G services in key regions like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, and Kolkata in Q3 2023. The company is set to phase out 3G services in other circles as well, with plans to fully switch off its 3G network by the fiscal year 2025.
Airtel and Jio 5G plan prices could be announced soon, Vi hints
On the prospect of 5G monetisation, Moondra highlighted the significant investments made by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel in 5G infrastructure. He noted, "While significant investments have already been made (by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel) in 5G, there is no monetisation happening yet, though it should be around the corner."
This statement strongly suggests that both Airtel and Reliance Jio might be on the verge of announcing 5G plan prices, indicating that 5G services may not be offered for free in the near future. Although neither company has officially confirmed these developments. Vi's executive has just hinted that such announcements should be imminent. Moondra also revealed that Vi will disclose its 5G plan prices at the time of the official launch. The rest of the details are currently unknown.
Published By:
Ankita Garg
Published On:
Jan 31, 2024
English (US) ·