Vodafone Idea prioritising high-return areas for 5G service availability; FWA trials on: CTO Jagbir Singh

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Can you share Vodafone Idea's 5G rollout plans?

We are launching in Mumbai on March 19, and by the end of April, we plan to launch in Delhi, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Patna, and possibly Chennai. Mumbai uses Nokia equipment, Delhi is with Ericsson, and Bengaluru and Patna are with Samsung. The delay is about one month, as we also need to swap out Huawei equipment in Delhi.

Following this phase, we plan to expand into Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, and Chennai. We have a three-year plan with a budget covering 75,000 sites and aim to cover at least 100 cities. With surrounding towns included, the total coverage area could expand significantly.

Are there exclusive prepaid and postpaid plans for 5G?

We are introducing an introductory 5G plan at Rs 299, which offers unlimited data. Postpaid plans will also include unlimited 5G, which will be announced soon.

Do you expect the 5G launch and 4G expansion to reduce customer churn?

If customers receive reliable 4G coverage and high-quality 5G service, there is no reason for them to switch providers. We have already observed positive trends in customer retention after expanding 4G coverage.

How do you decide which cities to prioritise for deployment?

Our analytics intelligence-based approach ensures that we deploy where customers need service most.
For 5G deployment, we analyse several factors, such as the number of devices in a given area, traffic patterns and application usage, and customer movement patterns, such as daily commutes, high-density residential areas, enterprise hubs, commercial zones, and major transit routes. This data-driven approach ensures optimal coverage and performance. Our network is continuously monitored to enhance customer experience.

Since we are deploying a Non-Standalone 5G Architecture (NSA), users will experience a seamless transition between 4G and 5G without disruption. Our rollout prioritises existing customers first, expanding in targeted pockets rather than just in a single, concentrated area.

The deployment is primarily managed through vendors, but our internal team is also involved. We have also prioritised automation, which helps us save money, especially in integration. We train our employees in cloud technologies, IP, MPLS, and even machine learning with AI-based tools. While we are not increasing our manpower, we are expanding their scope through automation.

Are you using AI for network planning?

While we don’t call it AI specifically, we have deployed an AI-based self-optimising network (SON) to improve network efficiency and performance. Since we deploy later than competitors, we benefit from the latest technology enhancements.

How does Samsung perform as a 5G vendor compared to Nokia and Ericsson?

We wanted vendor diversity and to test virtualised RAN (vRAN) technology. Samsung is a strong player, and we are replacing Huawei’s 4G with Samsung’s 4G and 5G in regions like Punjab, Karnataka, and Bihar. Our key performance indicators (KPIs) with Samsung are at par with those of Ericsson and Nokia.

Are there any supply chain issues with vendors?

No, there are no supply chain delays. Since some of our competitors are not deploying aggressively, vendor factories have the capacity to meet our needs.

Do you have plans to launch 5G based on a standalone architecture (SA)?

We have a strategy to deploy NSA 5G first. Our 75,000 sites will continue to follow the NSA's path. But if somebody says that, will you have the expertise? The answer is that we'll get ready by the end of this year.

What percentage of Vodafone Idea’s user base has 5G-compatible devices?

For instance, approximately 30-35 percent of our customer base in Mumbai has 5G-ready devices, which is growing daily.

How long will it take to phase out Huawei equipment?

It will be a phased process. Equipment with remaining usable life will be redeployed to rural areas, and end-of-life equipment will be replaced. For instance, in a big circle like Delhi, we are changing 4,000 Huawei 4G sites, leading to delays in the 5G launch using Samsung equipment.

The core network is already free of Chinese vendors, while the transport network has a Chinese presence but will be phased out once the equipment gets old.

How is Vodafone Idea addressing 4G coverage gaps?

Over the past nine months, we have upgraded about 100,000 towers with an additional 900 MHz spectrum, improving indoor coverage. We now have over 150,000 towers radiating on 900 MHz. Additionally, we ensure all available spectrum layers are utilised to maximise coverage.

Our objective is to reach a population coverage of 90 percent by the end of this three-year budget plan. We have already crossed 81-82 percent of population coverage. 4G has been the backbone for serving our customers and will continue to be the backbone, especially for the rural and semi-urban areas.

What are your plans for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)?

Unlike our competitors, we don’t have a strong fixed-line broadband presence. Since companies like Airtel and Jio have extensive fibre networks, FWA complements their strategy. However, we are conducting trials and evaluating the business case for FWA.

Are you considering partnerships for satellite-based broadband (SATCOM) like Starlink?

We are in discussion with not only Starlink but with two or three players. We will see where it goes, depending on our strategy and which service it complements. One is certainly for the uncovered areas, where satellite makes perfect sense, whether you want to give fixed or mobile. The second is fixed-line service in rural and smaller towns, where it is expensive to offer it. For some companies, complementing their [terrestrial] services for unconnected or fixed broadband is part of their strategy. However, our strategy doesn't include the fixed line right now. We are discussing to find out the right balance and who could be the right partner.

The market still has concerns about monetising 5G use cases. How is Vodafone Idea addressing this?

Monetisation remains a challenge, but our focus is on building infrastructure first. As use cases emerge, we will be ready to support them. We are in discussions with enterprises and remain open to enterprise and consumer use cases, such as private networks and IoT. We continuously test and prepare backend systems.

Is Vodafone Idea involved in 6G discussions at the government level?

Yes, I am a part of the 6G Alliance, contributing to standards and patents. While India is expected to have a substantial role, the primary focus remains on defining specifications.

Other telcos are actively deploying GPUs for enterprise use cases in data centres. Is Vodafone Idea exploring this?

We are in the learning phase regarding GPUs and AI. We are assessing how AI can be applied across network operations, IT, planning, design, finance, and HR. At this stage, we are still determining whether to utilise GPUs from hyperscalers or deploy our own.

Despite regulatory challenges, can Vodafone Idea remain a strong market player?

My focus is on in-house expertise, optimising CapEx and OpEx, and supporting business use cases at minimal cost. Decisions beyond my scope are handled by higher management. However, by focusing on automation, consolidation, and internal capabilities, we have achieved efficiency without increasing manpower.

Have specific strategies helped you optimise CapEx and OpEx differently than other telcos?

Yes, we have implemented architecture, vendor, and location consolidation. Given our history of multiple entities and vendor ecosystems, we had significant opportunities for optimisation.