Vodafone Thought completes eight years on August 31, 2026, marking an necessary milestone within the journey that introduced Vodafone India and Thought Mobile collectively as a single telecom operator.
Over the previous eight years, the corporate has built-in two nationwide networks, launched the unified Vi model, launched customer-focused companies, raised contemporary capital, and resumed important investments in 4G and 5G infrastructure.
The anniversary additionally comes after Vi recorded its first quarter of optimistic web subscriber additions for the reason that merger.
March 2017: Vodafone and Thought Announce a Landmark Merger
Vodafone Group and the Aditya Birla Group introduced the proposed merger of Vodafone India and Thought Mobile on March 20, 2017.
The transaction was designed to mix the spectrum, community infrastructure, distribution attain, and buyer bases of the 2 operators. It was anticipated to create a telecom firm with the size required to fulfill India’s rising demand for cellular voice and information companies.
The proposed merger subsequently acquired the required regulatory and authorized approvals.
August 2018: Vodafone Thought Begins Its Journey
The merger was accomplished on August 31, 2018, creating Vodafone Thought Restricted.
The mixed operator started with practically 408 million clients and a income market share of roughly 32.2% in Q1 FY19. Vodafone Group initially held 45.2% of the corporate, whereas the Aditya Birla Group held 26%.
Vodafone Idea additionally started operations with an in depth spectrum portfolio, nationwide cellular infrastructure and a big retail and distribution presence.
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2019: Integration of Two Nationwide Networks
Following the merger, Vodafone Thought started integrating the 2 corporations’ networks and operations.
The train coated radio networks, spectrum, transmission infrastructure, know-how platforms and buyer operations. The corporate additionally consolidated overlapping websites and deployed its mixed spectrum sources throughout the community.
Vodafone and Thought continued as separate customer-facing manufacturers throughout this integration interval.
September 2020: The Vi Model Is Born
Vodafone Thought launched the unified Vi model on September 7, 2020.
The title introduced Vodafone and Thought collectively beneath a single shopper id. The corporate unified its web site, cellular software, shops, and customer-facing companies beneath the Vi model.
Present Vodafone and Thought clients had been moved to the frequent id with no need to vary their cellular numbers or SIM playing cards. Vodafone and Thought shops had been additionally transformed into Vi shops.
Additionally Learn: India Adds Over 6 Million Wireless Subscribers in July 2026: TRAI
2021–2023: Constructing Resilience and Buyer Innovation
Throughout this era, Vi launched customer-focused pay as you go advantages as a part of its Hero Limitless proposition.
These included Binge All Evening, which provided limitless night time information; Weekend Information Rollover, which allowed clients to make use of unutilized weekday information over the weekend; and Information Delights, which supplied further backup information. These advantages subsequently turned a part of Vi’s SuperHero proposition.
The Union Cupboard additionally authorized a reform and assist bundle for the telecom sector in September 2021. The measures included a moratorium on sure funds and an choice to convert curiosity accrued on deferred dues into authorities fairness.
In February 2023, the conversion of curiosity dues into fairness gave the Authorities of India a 33.44% stake in Vodafone Thought, making it the corporate’s largest shareholder. Vodafone Group and the Aditya Birla Group continued to retain operational management.
April 2024: Vi Raises Rs 18,000 Crore
Vodafone Thought accomplished a follow-on public supply of roughly Rs 18,000 crore in April 2024.
The fundraising supported the corporate’s plans to develop 4G protection, add community capability and start its 5G rollout. Vi subsequently elevated its capital expenditure and began including community websites and spectrum capability throughout its precedence telecom circles.
The fundraising marked the start of a brand new funding cycle for the operator.
Additionally Learn: Vi’s Overlooked Growth Lever: Converting 2G Users to 4G/5G
September 2024: Main Community Tools Orders
In September 2024, Vodafone Thought concluded community tools agreements price roughly Rs 30,000 crore with Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung.
The three-year agreements coated the provision of kit for Vi’s 4G enlargement and 5G deployment. This system was meant to develop 4G inhabitants protection, improve community capability and assist the launch of 5G in key markets.
March 2025: Vi Launches 5G
Vi commercially launched its 5G companies in Mumbai in March 2025.
The operator subsequently expanded the service to further cities and telecom circles. Its rollout centered on areas with rising information demand and better adoption of 5G-enabled smartphones.
Vi continued investing in 4G alongside the 5G rollout, including new websites and capability throughout a number of spectrum bands.
April 2025: Vi’s Monetary Basis Is Strengthened
On April 8, 2025, Vodafone Thought allotted fairness shares price Rs 36,950 crore to the Authorities of India following the conversion of excellent spectrum public sale dues.
The transaction elevated the federal government’s shareholding in Vodafone Thought from 22.6% to 48.99%. The federal government remained the most important shareholder, whereas Vodafone Group and the Aditya Birla Group retained operational management.
The conversion diminished a portion of Vi’s excellent spectrum-related liabilities.
Additionally Learn: Vi’s Overlooked Growth Lever: Converting 2G Users to 4G/5G
FY26: 5G Reaches All 17 Precedence Circles
By March 2026, Vi had expanded its 5G companies to 83 cities throughout all 17 precedence circles the place it holds 5G spectrum.
The corporate’s 4G inhabitants protection elevated to roughly 86.3%. Throughout FY26, Vi added greater than 17,300 broadband towers and introduced an extra 48.2 million individuals beneath its 4G protection.
Vi ended FY26 with 128.9 million 4G and 5G subscribers, in contrast with 126.4 million a 12 months earlier. Buyer ARPU elevated to Rs 190 in This fall FY26, whereas month-to-month subscriber additions turned optimistic from February 2026.
Q1 FY27: Vi Returns to Quarterly Subscriber Progress
Throughout the quarter ended June 2026, Vi’s whole buyer base elevated from 192.8 million to 193.1 million.
This marked the corporate’s first quarter of optimistic web subscriber additions for the reason that Vodafone–Thought merger. Its 4G and 5G subscriber base additionally recorded year-on-year progress.
Income elevated by roughly 6% year-on-year to Rs 11,689 crore, whereas buyer ARPU rose 10.2% to Rs 195. Vodafone Thought’s consolidated loss narrowed to roughly Rs 3,754 crore from Rs 6,608 crore within the corresponding quarter of the earlier 12 months.
August 2026: Vi Outlines a New Three-Yr Progress Plan
Forward of its eighth anniversary, Vodafone Thought outlined the subsequent section of its community and enterprise enlargement.
Vi plans to take a position roughly Rs 45,000 crore in its community over three years. The corporate goals to deploy round 3,500 4G websites each month and full its deliberate 4G rollout throughout 17 precedence circles inside roughly 18 months.
Vi additionally plans to develop 5G to greater than 200 further cities over the subsequent two quarters. Over the subsequent three years, the corporate targets double-digit income progress and goals to triple its money EBITDA.
As Vodafone Thought enters its ninth 12 months, its focus stays on increasing protection and capability, strengthening buyer expertise, rising its 4G and 5G subscriber base, and executing its deliberate community funding program.
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FAQs
When does Vodafone Thought full eight years?
Vodafone Thought completes eight years on August 31, 2026. The merger of Vodafone India and Thought Mobile was accomplished on August 31, 2018.
When was the Vi model launched?
Vodafone Thought launched the unified Vi shopper model on September 7, 2020. Subsequently, Vodafone Thought completes eight years as a merged firm in August 2026, whereas the Vi model completes six years in September 2026.
When did Vi launch its 5G companies?
Vi commercially launched its 5G companies in Mumbai in March 2025. It subsequently expanded the service to further cities and telecom circles.
What number of cities had Vi 5G by March 2026?
By March 2026, Vi stated its 5G companies had been accessible in 83 cities throughout all 17 precedence circles the place it holds 5G spectrum.
What number of clients does Vi have?
Vi reported a complete buyer base of 193.1 million for the quarter ended June 2026. This was up from 192.8 million within the previous quarter.
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