Vi’s 5G surge: Four new circles join the network after Mumbai rollout

Backed by fresh equity funds, Vodafone Idea is directing capital expenditure toward strengthening 4G and 5G coverage across India’s major urban centers and strategic regions to stay competitive

Following its March debut in Mumbai, Vodafone Idea (Vi) is accelerating its entry into India’s competitive 5G market by expanding services to four additional telecom circles—Delhi, Bihar, Karnataka, and Punjab. The company confirmed the expansion via its official website, signalling a growing push to broaden its next-gen connectivity footprint.

With this move, Vi now offers 5G services in five circles, meeting the government’s Minimum Rollout Obligations (MRO) required of telecom operators. While Vi has not confirmed additional rollouts in April, the expansion reflects its renewed focus on infrastructure growth and market competitiveness.

To attract users amid stiff competition from Airtel and Jio, Vi is bundling its 5G access with existing mobile plans. Prepaid users on ₹299+ plans and postpaid subscribers starting at ₹451 can enjoy 5G data at no additional cost. However, the offer includes a soft cap—users will get 300GB of high-speed 5G data every 28 days, after which speeds may be reduced as per the plan.

Vi catching up with rivals

The telco is leveraging its existing 4G infrastructure through a Non-Standalone Architecture (NSA) model, which accelerates rollout and ensures compatibility with most 5G smartphones available in India. This approach allows Vi to deploy services efficiently while fine-tuning its network in real-time for optimal performance.

The ongoing expansion is being powered by funds raised from recent equity financing. The capital is being directed toward capex for both 4G and 5G networks, especially in high-demand urban centers and strategic markets.

Vi’s 5G journey is still in its early stages, with limited availability compared to rivals who began rollout earlier. However, telecom analysts believe the company could close the coverage gap in the next 18 to 24 months with continued investments and a strategic focus on urban markets.