Vodafone Idea has lost 3.623 million mobile phone subscribers on its 2G, 3G and 4G networks in January 2020 across India, TRAI data indicates.
Vodafone Idea’s mobile customers reached 328.989 million in January 2020 as against 332.612 million in December 2019.
Fastest 4G network?
Vodafone Idea has the fastest 4G network in the three metros – Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, along with West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in Q3 fiscal 2020, according to Ookla.
But the 4G speed does not reflect the customer addition for Vodafone Idea.
Vodafone Idea has lost customers in Delhi to 17.646 million in January 2020 from 17.701 million in December 2019.
Vodafone Idea has lost customers in Mumbai to 13.288 million in January 2020 from 13.468 million in December 2019.
Vodafone Idea has lost customers in Kolkata to 7.600 million in January 2020 from 7.679 million in December 2019.
Vodafone Idea has lost customers in West Bengal to 19.663 million in January 2020 from 20.035 million in December 2019.
Vodafone Idea has lost customers in Madhya Pradesh to 24.141 million in January 2020 from 24.926 million in December 2019.
Vodafone Idea has lost customers in Rajasthan to 13.958 million in January 2020 from 13.898 million in December 2019.
Jio shines
Reliance Jio added 6.561 million mobile phone customers to its 4G network. Jio does not have 2G and 3G networks. Reliance Jio’s 4G customer base reached 376.571 million in January 2020 as compared with 370.016 million in December 2019.
Bharti Airtel added 0.854 million phone customers to its 2G, 3G and 4G network in the month of January 2020. Airtel’s mobile phone subscriber base reached 328.151 million in January 2020 vs 327.297 in December 2019.
BSNL added 1.22 million mobile phone customers. BSNL’s customer base reached 119.245 million in January vs 118.025 million in December.
The latest TRAI report said wireless subscribers — 2G, 3G and 4G networks — increased from 1,151.44 million in December 2019 to 1,156.44 million in January 2020.
Mobile phone customers in urban areas increased to 644.54 million from 643.97 million. India’s mobile phone users in rural areas increased to 511.90 million from 507.46 million, according to TRAI.
Investment
Vodafone Idea has deployed ~58,200 TDD sites to augment data capacity. Vodafone Idea’s 4G subscriber base reached 104.2 million in the December quarter of 2020; 4G net additions accelerated to 8.3 million during the quarter.
Vodafone Idea added ~14,600 4G FDD sites, its highest addition in a single quarter since merger, to improve 4G population coverage. Vodafone Idea deployed ~58,200 TDD sites in addition to deployment of ~11,400 Massive MIMO till date.
Vodafone Idea said network investment initiatives have delivered significant capacity uplift and enhanced customers’ experience.
Vodafone Idea is making progress in implementing LTE 900 in select locations, including through dynamic spectrum refarming, to improve customer experience. Broadband site count stood at 417,361 in Q3 compared to 405,346 in Q2.
According to financial report from Vodafone Idea, its subscriber base had declined to 304 million in Q3 from 311 million in Q2. Subscriber churn further reduced in Q3, reaching 3.3 percent compared to 3.5 percent in Q2 and 3.7 percent in Q1.
Baburajan K
