Nokia to have 3,300 sites ready by March to expand Vodafone Idea’s 4G network

The Vodafone Idea network upgrade will lay the foundation of seamless transition to 5G.

As part of its recent equipment deal with Vodafone Idea (Vi), Nokia is accelerating the expansion of the telecom service provider’s network by deploying the latest baseband and radio modules across key circles and plans to deliver around 3,300 new sites by March 2025.

“Nokia has been one of our key long-term partners, providing exceptional support. We are collaborating closely with Nokia to expand our 4G network coverage to reach an additional 20 million people by March 2025,” Vodafone Idea’s chief technical officer Jagbir Singh said on November 13.

Nokia will also upgrade more than 42,000 technology sites and complete more than 25,000 spectrum expansions, aimed at enhancing bandwidth and data capacity.

So far, 100 percent of the spectrum expansion, nearly 40 percent of the technology upgrades, and 15 percent of new site installations have been completed.

“The expansion will also boost our 4G network capacity by 25 percent, allowing us to deliver a superior customer experience across nine of our 17 priority circles,” Singh said.

Nokia is deploying ultra-lean sites to address hotspot coverage needs and improve user experiences in targeted locations based on market demand.

Nokia expects Vi to maintain its focus on expanding coverage and capacity in 2025, enhancing data capabilities and extending services to rural and underserved areas.

The ongoing large-scale rollout is expected to significantly benefit all Vi customers.

“As a strategic partner of Vi, we are proud to assist in their LTE network expansion and modernisation in Nokia-supplied circles,” Tarun Chhabra, senior vice president and country head, Nokia India, said. The upgrades would enhance the mobile experience for millions of Vi customers while laying a strong foundation for a seamless transition to 5G technology, he added.

Vodafone Idea on September 22 concluded a $3.6 billion deal with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung to supply network equipment over three years.  As reported by Moneycontrol, Nokia emerged as the largest 4G and 5G supplier to Vodafone Idea after the deal, as the Finnish equipment maker not only retained existing circles where it provided 4G equipment but would also replace Huawei and ZTE in Chennai and Andhra Pradesh