Indian carrier Vodafone Idea has debuted its 5G network in cooperation with Nokia. Having lagged behind Jio and Airtel, the company has finally been able to shift its focus on 5G launch and expansion.
At the start, the telco started 5G in Mumbai. The company is using gears provided by Nokia for the advanced cellular network. It also uses an AI-powered Self-Organizing Network (SON) system which dynamically optimizes network efficiency.
Jagbir Singh, CTO of Vodafone Idea, said:“ Our focus is on introducing 5G meaningfully for our users. We have invested in building a robust 5G network by deploying the latest technology. By expanding our infrastructure, we are delivering a network that is ready for the future—seamless, powerful, and built for the demands of modern connectivity.”
The 5G launch marks a milestone development for the company which so far has been trialing Jio and Airtel. But it’s begun with an attractive offering to the subscribers. Vodafone has announced unlimited 5G data plans starting at $3.46 (INR 299).
Also: 5G advantages: Why should you use it?
Vodafone Idea will expand 5G in phases
After its Mumbai launch, Vodafone Idea said that it will expand the 5G network in more cities in phases. Despite the initial launch taking place just recently, it had been performing trials in multiple cities for a while. So, it’s just the beginning for the evolving company.
VI will commercially launch 5G services by March 2025 across 17 cities which will start with Mumbai and Delhi. The company is a joint venture between the Vodafone Group of the UK and India’s Aditya Birla Group. It’s the country’s third-largest telecommunications player.
Going ahead, the carrier seeks to increase coverage of 4G to 90% by June 2025. Jio and Airtel already enjoy wide 4g coverage and boast nationwide 5G access too. Therefore, VI has made a start and it has a major catching up journey ahead. Talking about it, Jio and Airtel have partnered with SpaceX for Starlink satellite internet in India.
Coming to VI, it has struck up a partnership worth $3.6 billion with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung for telecom gears for up to three years.