Since the successful conclusion of its follow-on public offer (FPO) earlier this year, Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) has been constructing 100 towers every hour.
In the second quarter of FY 2024–25, the business added over 42,000 4G sites, which is the most 4G sites it has ever added in a quarter.
Vodafone Idea Constructing 100 Towers Every Hour
VIL raised Rs 24,000 crore in equity capital, including Rs 18,000 crore from the FPO, as part of its rehabilitation plan.
Since the FPO, VIL has been implementing new infrastructure and growing its network at a quick pace.
During the current fiscal year, the business intends to invest Rs 10,000 crore in capital expenditures to increase network capacity, enhance quality, and lower subscriber attrition.
VIL signed a three-year, $3.6 billion (about Rs 30,000 crore) contract with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung in October 2024 for the modernization of 4G and the launch of 5G.
Within its 17 priority circles, VIL seeks to expand its 5G networks and fortify its 4G infrastructure in strategic cities.
With machine-to-machine connections excluded, VIL’s Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) increased 7.8% from Rs 154 in the April-June period to Rs 166 in the second quarter of FY 2024-25.
VIL’s overall subscriber base decreased from 21 crore to 20.5 crore in spite of the ARPU increase.
On a quarterly basis, the company’s 4G subscriber number also declined, going from 12.67 crore to 12.59 crore.
According to VIL’s CMO, Avneesh Khosla, the company’s dedication to strong connectivity and client connections is demonstrated by the addition of 100 towers each hour.
He states, “Adding 100 towers every hour is a testament to our commitment to bringing robust connectivity to ensure that people remain connected and come together for their loved ones in little ways that go a long way.”
Jio, Airtel, Vi Lose 1 Crore Users In 30 Days
Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea collectively witnessed a significant decline in their wireless subscriber base in September. Jio lost nearly 7.9 million users, Airtel saw a dip of 1.4 million, and Vodafone Idea shed 1.5 million subscribers.
These losses align closely with the recent price hikes of 10–27% implemented by private telecom operators in July 2024.
