Vodafone Idea Finally Completes The Minimum 5G Rollout Obligation Set By Department Of Telecommunications (DoT)

Vodafone Idea Limited acquired a 50MHz spectrum in 3,300MHz band across 17 circles each for Rs.15,137.75 crore through auctions that were held in 2022. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea were the telecom companies that won the auction.

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had asked these companies to roll out 5G anywhere in the metro as well as nonmetro circles in the first year. Reliance Jio has been the only telecom company in India that has expanded its 5G services at a rapid speed followed by Airtel. Vodafone Idea was also supposed to launch commercial service in at least one city in each circle by the end of the first year, 28 towns by 2025 across all telecom circle categories, and 87 towns across all categories of telecom circles by 2027.

But Vi delayed rolling out its 5G services and it was said that the DoT has been keeping an eye on the company’s 5G rollout and might impose a penalty on the telecom company for delaying its obligations.

Although DoT didn’t ask Vi to pay a penalty looking at the financial situation of the company. Vi has earlier confirmed the rollout in a few circles and now the company has officially announced that “ Vodafone Idea has completed its Minimum Rollout Obligation across all Vi 5G circles on both spectrum bands.” Earlier Vi also mentioned that it will go for the long-term rollout starting this winter.