Vodafone Idea
Vodafone Idea (Vi) is India's third-largest telecom operator, providing pan-India 2G/3G/4G/5G mobile voice, data and digital services to ~198.5 million consumer subscribers and enterprise customers through Vi Business offerings including IoT, SD-WAN, cloud and managed security.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersMumbai, India
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Vodafone Idea does
Vodafone Idea Limited (branded "Vi") is India's third-largest telecom operator, providing pan-India 2G/3G/4G/5G mobile voice, data and digital services to approximately 198.5 million consumer subscribers across 21 of 22 telecom circles. Incorporated in 1996 as Idea Cellular in Gujarat and formed from the 2018 merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular under the Vodafone Group and Aditya Birla Group promoter partnership, Vi is publicly listed on BSE (532822) and NSE (IDEA) and headquartered at Suman Towers, Gandhinagar. The company's consumer business spans prepaid packs (Rs 99 data vouchers to Rs 4,999 annual packs with bundled OTT), Vi Max postpaid tiers (Rs 451, 551, 751, REDX 1201) with a "choice of benefits" model, family plans, and the Vi Movies & TV OTT aggregation app bundling 13+ streaming platforms across 13+ languages. Its enterprise arm, Vi Business, delivers managed mobility, SD-WAN, MPLS, Internet Leased Lines, IoT (with Vi C-DOT IoT Innovation Lab and IoT Smart Central platform), CCaaS/CPaaS, cloud/colocation, managed security, and the MSME ReadyForNext digital advisory programme to large corporates, government and MSMEs.
Vodafone Idea firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vodafone Idea
- Legal name
- Vodafone Idea Limited (formerly Idea Cellular Limited)
- Website
- https://myvi.in
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Vodafone Idea (Vi) is India's third-largest telecom operator, providing pan-India 2G/3G/4G/5G mobile voice, data and digital services to ~198.5 million consumer subscribers and enterprise customers through Vi Business offerings including IoT, SD-WAN, cloud and managed security.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vodafone Idea industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wireless Telecommunications Services
- NAICS
- All Other Telecommunications (517810), Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing (33421)
- SIC
- Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813), Communications Services, Nec (4899), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Virtualized IMS & VoIP Core (vIMS) (HDAFANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- SD-WAN & Virtual CPE (vCPE) (HDAFANAG), VoIP/ATA & Integrated Voice Gateways (CPE) (HDAFAIAJ), VoIP Access & ITSP Services (HDAIAHAD), Voice Calling (VoIP) Apps (BPAMACAC)
Keywords
Where Vodafone Idea is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mumbai
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices7 records
Markets served
Vodafone Idea business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Prepaid mobile services: Recurring subscription revenue from prepaid voice, data (4G/5G), SMS, and bundled OTT benefits sold via recharge packs ranging from data vouchers (e.g., Rs 99) to long-validity annual packs (Rs 3,599–Rs 4,999); primary consumer revenue stream.
- Postpaid mobile services: Monthly recurring postpaid plans (Vi Max 451/551/751, REDX 1201) plus family and corporate postpaid plans billed at end of cycle; includes bundled OTT, IR pack, and complimentary benefits.
- Enterprise/B2B telecommunications services (Vi Business): Managed enterprise mobility, connectivity (SD-WAN, MPLS, ILL), IoT, cloud/colocation, security, and unified communications services sold to large corporates, government, MSMEs, and startups under multi-year/managed contracts.
- Premium VIP/fancy number sales: One-time payment for premium vanity mobile numbers selected during new connection or MNP onboarding, with prices including 18% GST.
- Digital content and OTT bundling (Vi Movies & TV): OTT aggregation and content partnerships (JioHotstar, Sony LIV, Amazon Prime, Netflix, ZEE5) bundled into prepaid/postpaid plans and sold as standalone OTT packs to drive ARPU uplift.
- Utility bill payments and transaction services: Convenience fee/transaction revenue from paying credit card, electricity, insurance, FASTag, and loan EMIs through Vi App and Vi website payment platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Vi Max 451 — entry postpaid plan (Rs 451/month) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Vi Max 551 — mid-tier postpaid plan (Rs 551/month) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Vi Max 751 — premium postpaid plan (Rs 751/month) |
| Subscription | Monthly | REDX 1201 — flagship postpaid plan (Rs 1,201/month) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Vi Max Family postpaid plans |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Prepaid long-validity packs (Rs 175 to Rs 4,999) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Prepaid Amazon Prime benefit packs (Rs 696–Rs 4,999) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Add-on data voucher (Rs 99) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Football World Cup Season Pass (Rs 798) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | VIP/Fancy number premium charges |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Vi Business Plus Postpaid 5G & Corporate Postpaid Plans (B2B) |
Go-to-market motion5 records
Distribution channels7 records
Vodafone Idea product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) is India's third-largest telecom operator offering pan-India mobile voice and data services across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks under prepaid and postpaid plans for consumers, complemented by a Vi Business portfolio of enterprise connectivity, SD-WAN, MPLS, IoT, cloud, security and unified communications services. The company also operates an OTT aggregation platform (Vi Movies & TV), a digital self-care app (Vi App), utility bill payments, and a CSR foundation (Vi Foundation).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vi Max: Postpaid plans offering unlimited data, calls, and complementary benefits (Vi Max 451, 551, 751, 1201 REDX).
- Vi Movies & TV
- Vi Hero Unlimited
- Vi NonStop Hero
- Vi GIGAnet
- REDX
- Vi Business
- Vi Business Plus
- Vi Business Assist
- IoT Smart Central
- MSME ReadyForNext
- Vi Foundation
- Vi App
- Vi Priority
- Vi Movies & TV Pro
- Vi Silent Mobile Verification (SMV)
Products and services
- Vi Prepaid
- Vi Max Postpaid
- REDX 1201
- Vi Max Family Postpaid
- Vi 5G (GIGAnet)
- Vi Movies & TV
- Vi Games
- Vi Business
- Vi Business Plus Postpaid (Corporate)
- Vi Business Plus Postpaid 5G Plans
- Vi Business Internet Leased Lines (ILL)
- Vi Business Hybrid SD-WAN
- Vi Business MPLS and Global MPLS
- Vi Business Managed Wi-Fi
- Vi Business SIP Trunking
- Vi Business CPaaS Solution
- Vi Business RCS
- Vi Business IoT Solutions
- IoT Smart Central
- Vi C-DOT IoT Lab
- Vi Business Cloud Managed Services
- Vi Business Infrastructure Colocation
- Vi Business Managed Security Services
- Vi Business Managed DDoS
- Vi Business Location Tracking Solutions
- Vi Business Mobile Call Recording
- Vi Business MSME ReadyForNext
Quantifiable outcome
- 27% reduction in AGR dues to Rs 64,046 crore from Department of Telecommunications
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Vodafone Idea
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Vodafone Idea technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature10 records
Vodafone Idea partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core strategic partnership, core subsidiary, minor regional partnership, major content bundling partner, core content bundling partner, premium content bundling partner, mid-tier lifestyle bundling partner, mid-tier security bundling partner, minor lifestyle bundling partner, major csr/stem partner, core operational and csr partner, core academic partner, core skill-development partner and core enterprise productivity partner.
- Meta Platforms (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram)core strategic partnershipVodafone Idea (Vi) partnered with Meta to launch Silent Mobile Verification (SMV) capabilities across WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram for Vi's 198.5 million subscribers in India. The network-based password-less authentication validates SIM and device identity directly through Vi's mobile network, eliminating manual OTP entry and reducing phishing and SIM-swap fraud risk. The launch was announced on June 4, 2026, with CEO Abhijit Kishore highlighting Vi's expanding telecom-API and digital-trust services ecosystem. Vi plans to extend SMV to additional third-party applications and enterprise partners.
- Vodafone Idea Telecom Infrastructure Limited (VITIL)core subsidiaryVodafone Idea's subsidiary Vodafone Idea Telecom Infrastructure Limited (VITIL) raised Rs 3,300 crore via non-convertible debentures to fund network investments and meet financial obligations. The proceeds will be used to repay Vodafone Idea and support business growth. The NCD issuance was oversubscribed by diverse investors.
- Asianet Broadbandminor regional partnershipVodafone Idea recently launched Vi One in partnership with Asianet Broadband, expanding broadband and mobile bundling options in Kerala following the Rs 18,000 crore FPO.
- ZEE5major content bundling partnerVodafone Idea launched a Football World Cup Season Pass priced at Rs 798 bundling sports streaming access on ZEE5 via Vi Movies & TV with 10GB of additional data for 30 days and a 90-day ZEE5 subscription, targeting mobile users during the tournament.
- Amazon Prime (Lite)core content bundling partnerAmazon Prime Lite is bundled into Vi prepaid packs starting Rs 696 (56 days) and Rs 996 (84 days) and into annual packs; also offered free for 6 months on Vi Max Postpaid plans Rs 551 and above as a one-time benefit.
- Netflixpremium content bundling partnerNetflix Basic subscription is offered complimentary with the REDX 1201 postpaid plan and select prepaid packs (e.g., Rs 1,198 with 70 days Netflix Basic) via Vi Movies & TV and Vi App onboarding.
- JioHotstar (Disney+ Hotstar)core content bundling partnerJioHotstar (mobile and TV+mobile) subscriptions are bundled across Vi prepaid and postpaid plans including 1-year JioHotstar mobile on Vi Max 451/551/751 and Rs 175/1015/2025 prepaid packs with T20 and other content.
- SonyLIVcore content bundling partnerSonyLIV mobile subscriptions (12 months) are bundled into Vi Max 451 and above postpaid plans and Vi prepaid packs (e.g., Rs 408 with 2GB/day for 56 days, Rs 979 with 19 OTTs for 84 days).
- Swiggy (SwiggyOne)mid-tier lifestyle bundling partnerSwiggyOne quarterly membership is offered as a complimentary benefit on Vi Max Postpaid plans Rs 551 and above and on family plans Rs 1201 and above; new Vi Max 551 also promotes SwiggyOne as a digital exclusive.
- Norton (Norton 360 Mobile Security)mid-tier security bundling partner1-year Norton 360 Mobile Security is bundled complimentary with Vi Max Postpaid plans starting Rs 451 and select prepaid plans as a security benefit.
- EazyDiner (Prime)minor lifestyle bundling partner1-year EazyDiner Prime access via two quarterly coupons is offered on Vi Max individual postpaid plans Rs 551 and above and on family plans Rs 1201 and above.
- EaseMyTripminor lifestyle bundling partnerEaseMyTrip flat Rs 750 OFF monthly on flight bookings offered as a benefit on Vi Max 551 and above postpaid plans.
- Ericsson Indiamajor csr/stem partnerEricsson India partnered with Vi Foundation to set up Robotics Labs in government-run and aided schools across Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi, impacting more than 3,600 students (almost half girls) with hands-on robotics, 3D printing and programming exposure.
- Vodafone Intelligent Solutions (VOIS)core operational and csr partnerVodafone Intelligent Solutions (VOIS) supports Vi Foundation's e-Vidya for Brighter Futures (240 schools, 1,08,000+ beneficiaries), Skill for Life programme (3,600 trained), VOIS for Tech University Engagement Programme (80,000+ students), and Planet & Wellbeing project (52,000+ saplings planted) across Pune, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Hyderabad.
- Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW)core academic partnerVi Foundation and Telecom Sector Skill Council established the IoT Centre of Excellence at IGDTUW in 2023, training students through online and practical sessions across six IoT use-cases (Smart Lighting, Smart Agriculture, Smart Health Monitoring, Smart Energy Monitoring, Smart Water Quality and Smart Environmental Weather Monitoring); over 600 students impacted since launch.
- Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC)core skill-development partnerTSSC co-established the IoT Centre of Excellence with Vi Foundation at IGDTUW and supports curriculum and certification across Vi's skill programmes.
- Google Workspacecore enterprise productivity partnerVodafone Idea Business offers Google Workspace plans including Gmail, Calendar, Chat and Meet as a managed productivity solution for enterprises and MSMEs, available through Vi Business sales motion.
Scale indicators28 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Vodafone Idea competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Reliance Jio (Reliance Jio Infocomm): India's largest mobile operator (subsidiary of Reliance Industries), offering pan-India 4G/5G, JioFiber broadband, and a deep OTT/content ecosystem (JioHotstar, JioSaavn). Direct head-to-head competitor to Vi in consumer mobile, postpaid, broadband, and now network APIs.
- Bharti Airtel: India's #2 telecom operator with pan-India 2G/3G/4G/5G, Airtel Business (enterprise mobility, IoT, data centres, cloud), Airtel Xstream (OTT), and the Wynk content platform. Closest direct peer to Vi across consumer, enterprise, and 5G segments.
- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL): State-owned telco that has recently won government enterprise accounts from Vi (e.g., UP Government 4,200 connections) and is rolling out 4G/5G with indigenous stack. Direct peer in the same 3-private-plus-1-public market, competing for price-sensitive rural and government segments.
- Bharti Hexacom: Listed Bharti Airtel subsidiary operating mobile services in Rajasthan and the North East circles. Comparable to Vi on circle-level mobile operations, ARPU, and capex intensity, providing a relevant micro-cap peer benchmark.
- Tata Teleservices (Tata Teleservices Limited): Historical Indian mobile operator that exited consumer mobile; pivoted to enterprise/B2B solutions. Comparable to Vi as a domestic telecom operator that has navigated financial stress and shifted toward B2B/enterprise.
Regional players
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL): State-owned telco operating in Delhi and Mumbai metros, overlapping Vi's strongest markets. Smaller, regional/urban peer providing a relevant comparable for spectrum, 5G, and government-enterprise dynamics in Vi's home markets.
- ACT Fibernet (Atria Convergence Technologies): Leading wireline broadband player in Tier-1/Tier-2 Indian cities, bundled with content and OTT. Comparable to Vi's broadband/OTT bundling strategy (Vi One with Asianet) and a regional analogue to JioFiber/Airtel Xstream.
Broad incumbents
- Tata Communications (Tata Comm): Global B2B-focused digital infrastructure and enterprise connectivity player with strong SD-WAN, MPLS, cloud, and IoT capabilities. Comparable to Vi Business on the enterprise side though it does not compete in consumer mobile.
- Reliance Industries (Digital Services / Jio Platforms): Parent of Reliance Jio and a broader digital/retail conglomerate with telecom, broadband, OTT, and digital commerce. Relevant comparable for Jio's funding capacity and the platform model Vi is trying to replicate with Vi Movies & TV and Vi Business.
Emerging players
- Sify Technologies: Indian ICT player focused on enterprise network, cloud, data centre, and managed services. Comparable to Vi Business for SD-WAN, MPLS, cloud/colocation, and B2B digital services, though smaller and B2B-only.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights8 records
Customer concentration
Vodafone Idea social profiles
Digital presenceVodafone Idea financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vodafone Idea leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Vodafone Idea subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Vodafone Idea funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vodafone Idea M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vodafone Idea
What does Vodafone Idea do?
Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) is India's third-largest telecom operator offering pan-India mobile voice and data services across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks under prepaid and postpaid plans for consumers, complemented by a Vi Business portfolio of enterprise connectivity, SD-WAN, MPLS, IoT, cloud, security and unified communications services. The company also operates an OTT aggregation platform (Vi Movies & TV), a digital self-care app (Vi App), utility bill payments, and a CSR foundation (Vi Foundation).
Is Vodafone Idea a public or private company?
Vodafone Idea is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Vodafone Idea founded?
Vodafone Idea was founded in 1996. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Vodafone Idea based?
Vodafone Idea is headquartered in Mumbai, India, in the Asia region.
How does Vodafone Idea make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Prepaid mobile services are the primary driver. The others are postpaid mobile services, enterprise/B2B telecommunications services (Vi Business), premium VIP/fancy number sales, digital content and OTT bundling (Vi Movies & TV) and utility bill payments and transaction services.
Who are Vodafone Idea's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Reliance Jio (Reliance Jio Infocomm), Bharti Airtel, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Bharti Hexacom and Tata Teleservices (Tata Teleservices Limited). Regional players are Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) and ACT Fibernet (Atria Convergence Technologies). Broad incumbents are Tata Communications (Tata Comm) and Reliance Industries (Digital Services / Jio Platforms). Sify Technologies is listed as an emerging player.
Does Vodafone Idea have an API?
Yes. Vodafone Idea offers a network-based Silent Mobile Verification (SMV) authentication API in partnership with Meta for WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, enabling password-less, OTP-free verification of Vi subscribers through the telecom network. Vi also exposes CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) APIs for B2B clients covering voice, messaging, click-to-call, and omni-channel communications, plus the IoT Smart Central connectivity management platform API for IoT deployments. Vi plans to extend network-based authentication to additional third-party applications and enterprise partners as part of its telecom API and digital trust services ecosystem.
What industry is Vodafone Idea in?
Vodafone Idea's product category is Wireless Telecommunications Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAFANAE, Virtualized IMS & VoIP Core (vIMS), with a secondary code of HDAFANAG, SD-WAN & Virtual CPE (vCPE). Its NAICS code is 517810 and its SIC code is 4813.