Vi (Vodafone Idea) 5G — Timeline and Plans
A Vi subscriber in Pune told us he's been "waiting for 5G since 2022." Vi bought spectrum with fanfare at the auction, paid ₹18,799 crore for it, and now — three and a half years of silence. What's going on?
What Vi Actually Owns
In the August 2022 spectrum auction, Vi acquired 26 GHz (mmWave) — 800 MHz bandwidth for ₹18,799 crore. Notably absent: Vi did not buy any mid-band (3300-3670 MHz) or 700 MHz spectrum. Mid-band is the workhorse of 5G. Without it, Vi can only offer 5G on mmWave (extremely short range) or through dynamic spectrum sharing on existing 4G bands (slower).
The Financial Reality
- Net debt: Over ₹2 lakh crore
- Subscribers: Down to approximately 210 million from 270+ million in 2020
- Revenue share: About 15%, vs Jio's 40%+ and Airtel's 33%+
- ARPU: ₹166 vs Airtel's ₹240+ and Jio's ₹205+
Vi raised ₹18,000+ crore through an FPO in 2024, and the government converted deferred payments into equity (approximately 33% stake). This kept the lights on but didn't leave much for 5G investment.
Realistic Timeline
- Late 2026: Possible limited 5G in 2-3 cities using DSS on existing bands. Not wide coverage.
- 2027: Gradual expansion to 5-10 cities, still DSS. Slower than Jio/Airtel 5G.
- 2028+: If Vi survives financially, potential mid-band acquisition in next auction.
What Vi Does Well Without 5G
- 4G quality: In Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Vi's 4G is solid
- Weekend data rollover: Unused daily data carries to weekends — genuinely useful
- International roaming: Vodafone heritage gives better roaming partnerships than Jio
- Postpaid plans: ₹399 and ₹499 with Netflix/Amazon Prime bundled are competitive
Should Vi Users Wait or Switch?
Stay with Vi if:
- You're in a Vi-strong 4G area and don't notice speed issues
- Your area doesn't have 5G from anyone anyway
- You value specific Vi plans or features
Switch if:
- You're in a city with good Jio/Airtel 5G and want those speeds
- You want unlimited 5G data
- You're noticing degrading Vi 4G quality
How to Port Your Number
- SMS PORT [your number] to 1900
- You'll receive a Unique Porting Code valid for 4 days
- Visit Jio or Airtel store with UPC, Aadhaar, and passport photo
- Porting completes in 3-7 working days
Vi is in survival mode, not growth mode. If you're happy with their 4G, no urgency to leave. But don't make future decisions based on Vi's 5G promises.