Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, announced at the India Mobile Congress that Vodafone Idea plans to significantly increase its investments in the deployment of 5G networks and further expansion of 4G coverage in India in the upcoming quarters. The company is also committed to fostering a robust supply chain in emerging areas such as OpenRAN. This initiative aims to empower innovative Indian companies to design both hardware and software for global markets.
Birla highlighted Vodafone Idea's progress in preparing its core network for 5G and developing advanced use cases for various sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, and logistics. He emphasized the importance of supporting both large enterprises and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as engines of growth and employment that contribute significantly to India's development.
While Vodafone Idea lags behind its competitors in the race for 5G deployment, with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel already having extensive 5G infrastructure, Birla praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dedication to digital inclusivity and India's digital transformation as a global model for technological transition and inclusive development.
He also noted the rapid increase in broadband users in India, surpassing 800 million, attributing this growth to the telecom sector's role in driving the nation's flourishing digital economy. Birla commended India's involvement in shaping future technology standards, including areas like 6G, under Prime Minister Modi's vision. He expressed his admiration for the government's leadership and strong support in these endeavors.
