As it grows its 5G network, Vodafone Idea (Vi) intends to increase the base price for 5G services, bringing it in line with rivals Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.
Although all three offer 28-day validity, Vi’s base 5G plan is currently less expensive at ₹299 than Jio’s and Airtel’s ₹349 and ₹398 plans, respectively.
Vi Plans 5G Price Hike to Match Jio and Airtel as Network Expands
Vi’s base 5G plan includes 1GB of data per day, whereas Jio and Airtel’s base 5G plans include 2GB.
As its network rollout advances, Vi hopes to raise the minimum amount required to access 5G, according to Axis Capital.
In the four cities where 5G was introduced—Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Patna—more than 60% of Vi’s 5G phone users have already made the switch, the company told analysts.
Vi’s 4G network has been less stressed since 5G was introduced, which has improved 4G user experience.
By August 2025, Vi intends to bring 5G services to major cities in each of the 17 telecom circles where it has 5G spectrum.
In order to support the impending 5G expansion, analysts anticipate that Vi will boost its marketing and advertising expenditures.
Vi to Mirror Jio and Airtel’s Post-Hike 5G Pricing Strategy for Better Monetization
It is anticipated that Vi’s 5G pricing strategy will be similar to previous approaches taken by Jio and Airtel, who increased base 5G rates following their hikes in July 2024 in order to boost monetization.
Vi’s objective of 90% 4G population coverage, or about 220,000 broadband sites, is contingent upon obtaining long-delayed bank debt financing.
According to analysts, Vi could achieve 85–86% 4G coverage on its own, but bank financing would be required to reach 90%.
Due to its continued reliance on government assistance and the Supreme Court’s rejection of its request for a waiver of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) obligations, Vi’s ₹25,000 crore debt-raise is expected to be delayed until March 2026.
After the government announced that it would not be converting any more of the company’s ₹76,000 crore AGR debt into equity, Vi’s stock fell 3.69% to ₹6.78 on the BSE.
Motilal Oswal cautioned that Vi might experience an annual cash shortfall of ₹20,000 crore and miss its ₹50,000–₹55,000 crore capital expenditure target for FY25–27 if AGR dues are not relieved and a debt-raise is unsuccessful.
The company also pointed out that Vi’s poor subscriber mix, high churn rates, and lower average revenue per user (ARPU) are the main reasons it keeps losing market share.
It went on to say that Vi will have a hard time gaining back lost subscribers because its rivals have more financial resources and better free cash flow.
In the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, Vi’s subscriber base dropped to 198.2 million, despite the company’s 5G rollout.
