India’s Department of Telecommunications(DoT) Will Keep an Eye on Vodafone Idea’s 5G Rollout

The Department of Telecommunications(DoT) of India will be monitoring the deployment of 5G services by Vodafone Idea.

Here’s more about it.

Vodafone Idea 5G

Vodafone Idea or VI acquired the 5G spectrum in the 3.34 GHz and 25GHz 5G bands in the auction that ended in August 1, 2022. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea were the telecom companies which won the auction.

Jio has brought its 5G service to over 78 cities all over India and plans to make its 5G services available through out the country by December 2023.

Airtel has also introduced its 5G services in 17 cities and will expand its 5G service all across India by March 2024.

Vodafone Idea has been delaying the deployment of 5G services and the Department of Telecommunications is keeping a keen eye on them.

If the company doesn’t complete the minimum rollout obligations assigned to them by September 2023, they will receive a financial penalty and may even have their assigned spectrum taken back.

Akshaya Moondra, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vodafone Idea, has stated that the company will begin offering 5G services once the funding from the banks has been arranged and also after acquiring the necessary 5G procurements.

Reports also reveal that, Vodafone Idea will initially launch its 5G services using a non standalone architecture.