Vodafone Idea and state-run BSNL have agreed to expand

Vodafone Idea and state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) have agreed to expand network sharing across all telecom circles, potentially deepening the existing partnership between the two operators. The development follows a meeting on Tuesday between Vodafone Idea CEO Abhijit Kishore and BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Robert J. Ravi. Under the proposed arrangement, the two telecom operators will enter into both intra-circle and inter-circle roaming agreements, allowing subscribers of each network to access the other’s services across different telecom service areas. The companies will also explore broader sharing of network infrastructure, including telecom towers and optical fibre. The expanded partnership could provide immediate operational benefits while allowing Vodafone Idea and BSNL to combine complementary strengths, reduce infrastructure duplication and improve cost efficiency. The move could also help the two operators strengthen their competitive position against larger rivals Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. The Department of Telecommunications had previously indicated that Vodafone Idea and BSNL were discussing deeper infrastructure sharing, including increasing Vodafone Idea’s use of BSNL’s towers for 4G and 5G services. As of April 2026, BSNL had leased around 1,441 towers to Vodafone Idea. The expanded network-sharing arrangement could help both operators improve coverage and service availability while controlling network-related costs. Vodafone Idea and BSNL continue to lag Jio and Airtel on several network quality parameters, making infrastructure sharing a potential way to narrow the gap more efficiently.