Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) has announced the conclusion of a significant $3.6 billion deal with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung to supply network equipment over the next three years. This partnership marks the initial phase of VIL’s ambitious three-year capital expenditure (capex) plan, amounting to $6.6 billion. The primary goals of this plan include expanding the company’s 4G population coverage from 1.03 billion to 1.2 billion, launching 5G services in key markets, and enhancing network capacity in response to growing data demand.
VIL is continuing its long-standing relationships with network equipment providers Nokia and Ericsson, while bringing Samsung onboard as a new partner. The inclusion of these three industry leaders will enable VIL to utilize the latest, cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure, helping the company deliver an improved and seamless customer experience. Additionally, the equipment supplied will lead to energy efficiency improvements, which are expected to lower operating costs in the long term.
The rollout of this network expansion is set to begin in the next quarter, with VIL focusing on expanding its 4G coverage to 1.2 billion people across India. The network upgrades are expected to support both 4G and 5G technologies, allowing VIL to offer flexible and customized services.
CEO of Vodafone Idea, Akshaya Moondra, emphasized the company’s commitment to network innovation, stating, “We are committed to investing in emerging network technologies to provide a best-in-class experience to our customers. We have kicked off the investment cycle.”
Moondra further added that VIL is embarking on its journey towards “VIL 2.0” and aims to position itself for growth in the telecommunications industry. “Nokia and Ericsson have been our partners since our inception, and this marks another milestone in that continuing partnership. We are pleased to start our new partnership with Samsung. We look forward to working closely with all our partners as we move into the 5G era.”
This strategic collaboration and investment will not only enable VIL to stay competitive in India’s rapidly evolving telecommunications market but also position it to capitalize on future industry growth opportunities.
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