Vodafone Idea plans to increase funding for India's 5G deployment

27 Oct 2023 , 02:42 PM

At the 7th Edition of the India Mobile Congress on October 27, Vodafone Idea’s extra director, Kumar Mangalam Birla, announced that the company would increase its investments to roll out 5G networks and further expand 4G coverage in India.

The indebted telecom provider has not yet launched 5G networks in India for commercial use, whereas competitors Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have already extended 5G coverage to the majority of the nation.

Birla continued, ‘Over the past year, the Vodafone Idea team has worked tirelessly to prepare the core network for 5G.’ He added that ‘India has emerged as a champion for the global south.’

Meanwhile, Bharti Enterprises Chairman and Bharti Airtel founder Sunil Bharti Mittal said during the IMC’s opening ceremony, ‘A new technology is now available for our country.’ Satellite communication is now available to cover every square inch of the world, including our own country.’

Mittal stated that ‘anybody anywhere in the country, however remote or far or in difficult areas, can be connected from our satellite ground station that has been set up in Mehsana, Gujarat.’ This would usher in an unprecedented era of connectivity for India beginning next month. With the help of satellite communication technology, India’s digital gap might be closed, allowing for the connection of even the most remote areas, promoting economic growth, and revolutionising communication inside the country.

The 7th India Mobile Congress was officially opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The prime minister was observed mingling with executives from top telecom providers. Accompanying the Prime Minister, Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, expounded on the telecom work his business is undertaking.

Mittal conversed with PM Modi as well. Bharti Enterprises is demonstrating what it refers to as the ‘future of innovation’ at the Mobile Congress through digital infrastructure, AI-enabled technology, and 5G Plus.

As part of the ‘100 5G Labs initiative,’ PM Modi will also present awards during the ceremony to 100 ‘5G Use Case Labs’ that have been established in academic institutions throughout India.

Through the creation of 5G applications suited to India’s particular needs as well as those of the rest of the world, this effort seeks to fully realise the potential of 5G technology.

Additionally, it is essential in preparing the nation’s academic and startup environment for the impending 6G era and has made a substantial contribution to the development of domestic telecom technology that is essential for national security.

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