Vodafone Idea (Vi) has completed 5G tests in the 3.3 GHz and 26 GHz bands in Pune, India, as part of its push to meet its minimum rollout obligations.
"Vodafone Idea 5G testing (MRO phase-1) in 26 GHz and 3.3 GHz at Ghole Road, Pune, was successfully completed on 16 August 2023, by Maharashtra LSA Pune," said the Department of Telecommunications' (DoT’s) Maharashtra unit.
Vi's efforts to launch 5G have fallen short so far, with the debt-ridden operator still yet to launch the service. In a recent earnings call, Vi officials confirmed that the operator would not meet its rollout obligations in 15 of the 17 circles of spectrum it purchased last year.
Meanwhile, competitors Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) have already met their obligations, while the fourth company to acquire spectrum, Adani Data Networks, still hasn't met the requirements.
Vi revealed that its net loss has increased to Rs 78.37 billion ($943 million) from Rs 64.14 billion ($770 million) quarter-on-quarter and Rs 72.96 billion ($880 million) in the same period of 2022.
Vi now counts around 221.4 million mobile subscribers on its record, compared to 240 million during the same quarter last year — losing almost 20 million mobile subscribers.
The company had previously experienced difficulties as it struggled to pay its dues with its vendor partners. This was after it was saved from the brink of collapse by the Indian government last year, which acquired a total 35.8% stake in the company.
