Vodafone Idea reported a profit after tax of INR345 billion for FY2026 and tied the result to a faster rollout of 4G and 5G, plus a shift in its customer mix toward higher-value subscribers.
In parallel, the operator said its 5G network now covers more than 80 cities across all 17 telecom circles where it owns 5G spectrum, as management pointed to continued network modernization and selective fixed wireless access (FWA) pilots.
Profit turnaround and FY2026 operating performance
For FY2026, Vodafone Idea said revenue rose 3% year-over-year to INR448 billion, while EBITDA increased 4.8% to INR190 billion.
The company also reported capital expenditure of INR87 billion during FY2026, alongside higher-value subscriber progress that management framed as ARPU-driven premiumization.
5G rollout mechanics: 80+ cities and 17 circles
Vodafone Idea said its 5G coverage expanded to more than 80 cities following the commercial launch of 5G services in Mumbai in March 2025.
The operator added that its 5G footprint covers more than 80 cities across all 17 telecom circles where it owns 5G spectrum.
ARPU and subscriber mix: premiumization as the lever
Vodafone Ideas chief executive officer, Abhijit Kishore, said customer ARPU has been increasing for 19 consecutive quarters, and that ARPU expansion over the last year was driven primarily by premiumization.
Kishore linked this to the improving 4G and 5G subscriber mix, which stood at 66.9% in fiscal Q4, up from 63.8% in fiscal Q4 2025. Vodafone Idea reported ARPU increased from INR175 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 to INR190 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, which it described as the highest quarterly increase in the Indian telecom sector.
Network modernization and selective FWA evaluation
Kishore said Vodafone Idea added approximately 30,000 unique broadband towers over the last six quarters and expanded capacity by adding over 126,000 new broadband layers in the same period.
He also cited 4G progress, saying the operator expanded 4G capacity by over 27% and improved 4G population coverage over 86% on a pan-India basis, with management stating 4G reached 86% of Indias population after adding coverage for an additional 48 million people during the year.
On FWA, Vodafone Ideas executives indicated the operator is evaluating redundant connectivity opportunities as part of its 5G strategy. Chief financial officer Tejas Mehta said the company is looking at some redundant connectivity pilots, while emphasizing that the current focus is largely on mobility due to a perceived gap on both 4G and 5G, and that FWA would be part of the strategy only in select places.
Sources
- Source: www.rcrwireless.com.