Vodafone Idea, in acronym Vi, is an Indian telecommunications company with its headquarters based in Mumbai and Gandhinagar.[6][7][8] It is an all-India integrated GSM operator offering mobile telephony services.

Quick Facts Company type, Traded as ...
Vodafone Idea Limited
Company typePrivate
ISININE669E01016
IndustryTelecommunications
Predecessor
FoundedAugust 31, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-08-31)
Founder
Headquarters,
India
Area served
India
Key people
[1][2]
Products
RevenueIncrease 42,765 crore (US$5.1 billion)[3] (2024)
Increase 16,850 crore (US$2.0 billion)[3] (2024)
Decrease −31,238 crore (US$−3.7 billion)[3] (2024)
Total assetsDecrease 184,997 crore (US$22 billion)[4] (2024)
Total equityDecrease −104,166 crore (US$−12 billion)[4] (2024)
Owners
Number of employees
Increase16,084 (2024)[5]
Parent
SubsidiariesYOU Broadband (100%)
Websitewww.myvi.in
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As of 30 April 2024, Vi has a subscriber base of 217.30 million,[9] making it third largest mobile telecommunications network in India and 12th largest mobile telecommunications network in the world.[10]

Vodafone Idea was created on 31 August 2018 by the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular.[11] On 20 September 2020, the two separate brands Vodafone India and Idea Cellular rebranded as Vodafone Idea (Vi).[12][13][14]

History

In March 2017, it was announced that Vodafone India and Idea Cellular would merge. The merger got approval from the Department of Telecommunications in July 2018. On 30 August 2018, National Company Law Tribunal gave the final nod to the Vodafone-Idea merger.[15] It was completed on 31 August 2018, and the new entity was named Vodafone Idea.[16][17][10] Under the terms of the deal, the Vodafone Group Plc held a 45.2% stake in the combined entity, the Aditya Birla Group held 26% and the remaining shares were to be held by the public.[10]

Vodafone Idea lost a significant number of gross and active subscribers in the month of August 2020.[18]

Until 7 September 2020, Vodafone Idea operated two separate brands:[19] Vodafone India and Idea Cellular who both operated pre-paid and post-paid GSM service.[20][21]

On 3 February 2023, the Government of India ordered the company to convert its interest dues worth 161.33 billion Indian Rupees ($1.96 billion) to equity at the rate of 10 rupees per share face value (well over then market value ~8.5), thus making the government the single biggest shareholder in the company.[22]

Network

Spectrum frequency holding summary

Vodafone Idea owns spectrum in 868 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3500 MHz and 26 GHz bands across the country.[23]

This table contains Vodafone Idea radio frequency details because they had integrated their networks with each other and using one anchor network for both brands in all respective telecom circles. For example, Idea has started 4G services in Delhi and Kolkata telecom circle from May 2018 where the Vodafone is anchor network vice versa Vodafone has Started 4G services in Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Bihar & Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir telecom Circle's where Idea is Anchor network.[24][25]

Network consolidation

By March 2019, Vodafone Idea announced its network consolidation across major circles, easing network issues faced by consumers and also enhancing its 4G coverage. Announcements of Network Consolidation were made as below:

Enhanced Unified (2G, 3G, and 4G) coverage details

More information State, No of Towns Covered ...
State No of Towns Covered No of Villages Covered Coverage area %/km
Haryana[26] 145 6520 99.5%
ROWB[27] 878 37585 97%
Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh[28] 664 53130 60%
Jammu and Kashmir[29] 110 3301
AP & Telangana[30] 391 19700 92.5%
Bihar & Jharkhand[31] 431 43503 79%
HP[32] 59 11929
NESA & Assam[33] 439 17850 41%
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Enhanced (4G) coverage details

More information State, No of Towns Covered ...
State No of Towns Covered No of districts Covered No of Villages Covered Population %
Haryana[26] 137 22 76.08%
ROWB[27] 838 27 78%
Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh[28] 633 77 52%
Jammu and Kashmir[29] 48 9 526 23.6%
AP & Telangana[30] 381 23 8500 67%
Bihar & Jharkhand[31] 343 56 19931 45.3%
HP[32] 45 8 6082 43%
NESA & Assam[33] 340 83 4200 70%
Punjab[34] 227 24 10162 90%
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Vi Movies & TV

As of September 2023, Vi Movies & TV app is currently available for Vi subscribers on Android (above Android 5.1) and iOS devices (10.0 and above versions).[35]

See also

References

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