[Updated] Vodafone Idea (Vi) 5G Service Reportedly Rolled Out in India
Vodafone Idea (Vi) has silently rolled out 5G services in India, according to a report. The telecom service provider is said to have launched operations of 5G in 17 circles across the country, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi. The rollout comes after the company’s CEO reportedly said in January that the 5G rollout in India would start within six to seven months. The telecom operator has clarified that while its 5G services have been rolled out, it will begin the commercial rollout of 5G services in the country at a later date.
Vodafone Idea (Vi) Rolls Out 5G Services in 17 Cities
According to a TelecomTalk report, Vi is now offering 5G operations in 17 licensed service areas (LSAs) across India. The current launch is said to be “small-scale”, as the network is available in specific locations within these cities, marking the entry of the telecom operator in the 5G space.
Editor’s note: Vi reached out to Gadgets 360 to clarify that while it has rolled out 5G services in accordance with MRO guidelines, it has not introduced commercial 5G services in the country. The telecom operator says it will announce its 5G launch roadmap in the future.
Vi has deployed 5G on both the 3.3GHz and the 26GHz spectrum, as per the report. Further, the service is said to be available to both prepaid and postpaid users. Some users have also posted screenshots of 5G services enabled on their handsets.
#Vi5G is here
It’s On NSALocation: Supreme court metro station, Delhi pic.twitter.com/sn7szj0TQq
— Abhinav Dhiman (@SparkRadar) December 16, 2024
Gadgets 360 staff members were not able to verify the presence of Vi’s 5G network in these locations.
“We have successfully rolled out 5G services in accordance with MRO guidelines. A full-scale launch to all users is part of our roadmap, and we will share more details at an appropriate time,” a Vi spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.
List of LSAs and Areas With Active 5G
| Circles | Areas with active 5G |
|---|---|
| Rajasthan | Jaipur (near Galaxy Cinema, Mansarovar Industrial Area, RIICO) |
| Haryana | Karnal (HSIIDC, Industrial Area, Sector-3) |
| Kolkata | Sector V, Salt Lake |
| Kerala | Thrikkakara, Kakkanad |
| UP East | Lucknow (Vibhuti Khand, Gomtinagar) |
| UP West | Agra (Near J.P. Hotel, Fatehabad Road) |
| Madhya Pradesh | Indore (Electronic Complex, Pardeshipura) |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad (Near Divya Bhaskar, Corporate Road, Makarba, Prahladnagar) |
| Andhra Pradesh | Hyderabad (Aida Upal, Ranga Reddy) |
| West Bengal | Siliguri (City Plaza Sevok Road) |
| Bihar | Patna (Anishabad Golamber) |
| Mumbai | Worli, Marol Andheri East |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru (Dairy Circle) |
| Punjab | Jalandhar (Kot Kalan) |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai (Perungudi, Nesapakkam) |
| Maharashtra | Pune (Shivaji Nagar) |
| Delhi | Okhla Industrial Area (Phase 2), India Gate, Pragati Maidan |
According to the publication, Vi has not rolled out the 26GHz band or the N258 band in Bihar. The spectrum is said to have been deployed in all the other listed circles.
