Vodafone Idea Limited and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited have reportedly initiated discussions on sharing infrastructure and spectrum as part of efforts to reduce costs and accelerate 5G deployments.
According to reports, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) informed a parliamentary committee that the two operators are exploring options to share towers, fibre and spectrum, as both face high capital expenditure requirements and uneven network coverage across regions.
The committee expressed support for the proposal, noting that duplication of telecom infrastructure, especially assets owned directly or indirectly by the government, leads to inefficient capital utilisation.
It added that sharing infrastructure and spectrum could help expand service reach, optimise resource use, lower expenditure, improve connectivity and speed up 5G rollout.
The committee has directed the DoT to prepare a detailed plan on infrastructure sharing, including timelines and potential cost savings, within six months.
