Vi (Vodafone Idea) Confirms 5G Launch Plans For Delhi

Vodafone Idea (Vi) was one of the top three bidders at the 5G spectrum auction in India. It bagged a total of 2,668MHz of spectrum worth ₹18,784 crore. While the other two top bidders, Jio and Airtel announced their 5G network rollout plans, Vodafone Idea was yet to make any such announcements. 

A report by BGR suggests that Vodafone Idea is planning to roll out 5G in the country soon, at least in some parts of India. According to the report, Vi users in the Delhi NCR will soon be able to enjoy superior 5G speeds. Vodafone Idea has been sending messages to its existing 4G/2G users in the capital of India about its 5G rollout.    

Vodafone Idea is sending messages asking its users to upgrade their SIM card to enjoy faster 5G connectivity when it becomes available. The message reads, “Important Notice: Vi network is being upgraded to 5G. Upgrade your SIM today or else your data speed will be reduced.” This message was sent on August 24, 2022 by the telco. While the telecom operator confirmed the 5G rollout in the region, it refrained from sharing the exact date and month with its users. Meanwhile, its rivals Jio and Airtel are expected to begin rollout by the end of 2022 and widespread coverage by March 2024.

Vodafone Idea was able to achieve speeds of up to 3.7Gbps speed during its 5G network trial in Pune, Maharashtra. Later it managed to record peak download speeds of up to 1.5Gbps in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The telecom operator also claims to have recorded 5.92Gbps speeds during its mmWave 5G trials.