When Airtel, Idea Cellular add international roaming on 4G networks

International roaming
Telecom network operators Idea Cellular and Bharti Airtel do not offer international roaming to its customers on 4G LTE networks. Vodafone India has limited international roaming presence.

Vodafone India today said it’s the first and only telecom service provider to currently offer international roaming on 4G to its India customers visiting UK, Germany, Romania, Spain and Netherlands.

Idea Cellular and Bharti Airtel are the other two telecom network operators, which announced 4G LTE network in India. Reliance Jio Infocomm is expected to announce the commercial launch of 4G in the next 3-6 months.

Vodafone 4G network in Kolkata

Meanwhile, Vodafone announced the investment in its 4G network in Kolkata. Earlier, Vodafone 4G services – on 1800 MHz band spectrum — reached select towns in Kerala and Karnataka.

Subscribers of Vodafone 4G services can access the broadband network on smartphone makers such as Apple iPhone, Samsung, Micromax, Microsoft, Lava and Xolo.

The telecom network operator made investment in 4G spectrum, LTE network and fiber backhaul to ensure better customer experience.

“Initial response from customers who have experienced our 4G services in Kerala and Karnataka has been positive and encouraging,” said Naveen Chopra, chief operating officer, Vodafone India.

Kolkata is a significant growth market for Vodafone India with data contributing around 25 percent of total revenues and growing at a rate of over 45 percent annually.

“We will soon expand our 4G services in a phased manner to launch 4G across the city of Kolkata by June 2016,” said Anand Nripendra Sahai, business head – Kolkata and Rest of Bengal Circles, Vodafone India.

Vodafone India has made an investment of over Rs 900 crore in West Bengal in 2015 to expand, modernize and building network.

Vodafone has a retail footprint with 178 exclusive Vodafone stores — 28 large retail format and 150 Mini Stores — in Kolkata.