Jio and Airtel have been providing 5G services in India for quite some time now, while BSNL and Vodafone Idea (Vi) are nearing the full-scale launch of their services. As part of this transition, Vodafone Idea (Vi) has launched its 5G network in Mumbai for a trial run.
This is a strategic step towards a full commercial rollout around Holi, which falls on March 14. Currently, the Vi 5G service is in its trial phase, where the telecom company is offering a select group of Mumbai consumers unlimited 5G connectivity at no extra cost.
Eligibility and access to the trial
During the trial, select users will receive an SMS from Vi Care or spot a 5G signal on their devices. They will further need a 5G-compatible handset and a 5G-ready SIM (existing 4G SIMs are compatible too). However, if they move out of the coverage area, their connection will switch to 4G, and they will consume data from their existing 4G plan. Further, users will be alerted about their data usage.
Feedback and network optimisation ahead of launch
The trial phase will help Vi gather valuable user feedback and fine-tune its network in preparation for the full commercial launch. Notably, Vi has signed a $3.6 billion deal with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung to expand its 4G coverage and deploy 5G networks. The company is rapidly installing 5G base stations to accelerate the rollout.
By entering the 5G race alongside Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, Vi aims to launch its full 5G service in major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Patna by April 2025.
