Vodafone India on Friday announced plans to launch 4G services by the end of this year.
Data-hungry markets including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Begaluru and Kochi will be among the first areas of the country to receive high-speed mobile broadband, the operator said in a statement.
Vodafone ramped up its 4G plans by acquiring spectrum suitable for 4G services in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Karnataka at auction in February 2014.
"These circles together contribute close to 50% of the total data revenues for Vodafone India," the company said on Friday.
Vodafone said it has already begun testing 4G services, and has partnered with "leading global technology infrastructure service providers" for the network deployment.
"Vodafone is building robust and resilient network architecture with a strong backhaul to support the volumes and need for speed from customers," Vodafone said.
In addition, the telco has also announced plans to extend 3G services to a further seven circles – Assam, North East, Uttar Pradesh West, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala and Odisha – increasing its overall 3G footprint to 16 circles.
Globally, Vodafone has launched 4G services in 18 countries, and now boasts more than 20 million 4G subscribers.
"Given the expertise and experience of launching in so many global markets, Vodafone understands the needs of the 4G customer," Vodafone said.
The launch will make Vodafone India’s third 4G provider after Aircel and market leader Bharti Airtel.
The latter this week bolstered its 4G spectrum holdings with the acquisition on Wednesday of defunct mobile broadband provider Augere Wireless, which held 40 MHz of BWA spectrum in the Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh telecom circle.
Meanwhile, like Vodafone, Reliance Jio Infocomm – which holds nationwide BWA spectrum – also plans to launch commercial 4G services in December.
