Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) has announced a slew of network upgrades in Bihar and Jharkhand.

Following its follow-on public offer (FPO) in April, Vi has been investing heavily in improving its network infrastructure to deliver enhanced voice and data services through its Vi GIGAnet. As part of these efforts, the company increased its 4G capacity by 150 per cent in the Bihar-Jharkhand circle, ensuring better coverage and faster speeds.

Key updates as part of this exercise included:

  • Redeploying 3G spectrum to 4G in the 2100MHz band across 3,400 sites like Begusarai, Bettiah, Darbhanga, Biharsharif, Bodhgaya, Dehri, Gopalganj, Hajipur, Madhubani, Motihari, Nawada, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Deoghar, Bokaro etc.
  • Expanding the 1800MHz spectrum bandwidth across 4,300 sites like Patna, Dhanbad, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Gaya, Bokaro, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Purnia, Begusarai, Arrah, Munger, Chapra etc.
  • Doubling the 2500 MHz band’s capacity to 20MHz in high-usage areas like Patna, Arrah, Gaya, Motihari, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, etc.

These enhancements overall have led to a 35 per cent increase in data speeds, offering a seamless experience to customers in Bihar and Jharkhand. Vi is also upgrading its core network for 5G readiness, with improvements like e-SIM benefits, enhanced VoLTE architecture, and the rollout of VoWIFI for better indoor services. In recent time, the company has expanded its retail presence in the State, with over 180 stores including Vi stores, Vi shops, and Vi mini stores and has an extensive distribution network with over 680 distributors and 37,000 recharge outlets.

Commenting on the development, Abhijit Kishore, chief operating officer, Vi, said, “Bihar and Jharkhand are our top priorities and we are committed to investing here to ensure that our customers enjoy the best experience and services. We are focussed on expanding 4G coverage and enhancing data capacity to meet customers’ growing needs.”

Towards this end, Kishore also added that amidst customer demanding more choices, Vi App, now offers a wide range of services including games, entertainment, utility bill payments and more. “Given the popularity and growth potential of OTT services, Vi is expanding its OTT bundled portfolio. Currently, offering OTT bundles with Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLiv, Zee5 and SunNxt with more partnerships coming soon.”