A fresh phase of 5G expansion is underway in eastern India as Vodafone Idea (Vi) strengthens its next-generation network footprint across key cities in West Bengal and nearby regions. The telecom operator has announced that it is accelerating deployment in industrial, commercial, and tourism-focused markets as part of its larger nationwide rollout strategy.
Vi has officially launched 5G services in Malda, Haldia, and Berhampur. The company also confirmed that 5G connectivity will soon reach Durgapur, Asansol, Habra-Ashoknagar, Burdwan, Kharagpur, Gangtok, and Darjeeling, taking the current rollout phase to 10 cities across the eastern region.
According to the company, the rollout is focused on locations with high data demand, growing urban infrastructure, and strong industrial activity. Cities such as Durgapur and Asansol are key industrial hubs, while Haldia serves as a major commercial and port-linked centre. Tourism-driven markets like Darjeeling and Gangtok are also part of the expansion roadmap.
The latest move follows Vi’s earlier announcement made in March, where the telecom operator revealed plans to expand 5G services to 90 additional cities by May 2026. At that time, the company stated that its 5G network was already available in 43 cities across 17 telecom circles and was expected to grow to 133 cities across 15 circles.
Vi had also identified several major markets for future expansion, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh East, Uttar Pradesh West, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Gujarat, and West Bengal.
The telecom operator earlier confirmed that it is working with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung for 5G infrastructure deployment in regions where demand for high-speed connectivity and compatible devices is rapidly increasing.
With the latest rollout, Vi continues moving closer to its goal of expanding 5G services to more than 100 cities across India.
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