Vodafone India to launch 4G in 8 more circles
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Vodafone India has revealed plans to roll out 4G services in eight additional telecoms circles by March 2017, giving it a 4G presence in 17 of India’s 22 service areas.
The operator aims to deploy 4G in 2,400 additional towns over the next four months, in the circles of of Maharashtra and Goa, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh West, Assam and North East.
Vodafone’s SuperNet 4G service already covers nine circles – Mumbai, Delhi and NCR, Kolkata, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh East and West Bengal.
Vodafone was the biggest winner of India’s recent $9.8 billion spectrum auction, securing 2x 82.6MHz of FDD and 200MHz of TDD spectrum across the 1800-MHz, 2100-MHz and 2500-MHz bands. The auction gave the company 4G capability in 17 of India’s 22 telecoms circles.
Now the company plans to leverage this spectrum to expand its 4G network. This will allow Vodafone to better compete against disruptive new pan-India 4G operator Reliance Jio Infocomm, which has been shaking up the market with its mobile data focused approach. Jio’s unlimited voice and SMS plans threaten to further cut into existing Indian mobile operators’ low margins.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which additional regions will Vodafone's 4G services be available in by March 2017?
Which additional regions will Vodafone's 4G services be available in by March 2017?
Vodafone plans to deploy 4G in Maharashtra and Goa, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh West, Assam and North East. This expansion will cover 2,400 new towns within these circles.
Q.In how many Indian telecoms circles will Vodafone have 4G coverage after this expansion?
In how many Indian telecoms circles will Vodafone have 4G coverage after this expansion?
After rolling out 4G in eight additional circles, Vodafone will have a 4G presence in 17 of India’s 22 service areas. This uses the 4G capability gained in the recent spectrum auction.
Q.Why is Vodafone expanding its 4G network across India?
Why is Vodafone expanding its 4G network across India?
Vodafone is expanding its 4G network to better compete with Reliance Jio Infocomm, a disruptive pan-India 4G operator. Jio's mobile data focus and unlimited voice/SMS plans are threatening existing operators' margins.
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