George Mathew, Business Head, Kerala, Vodafone Idea
Leading telecom operator Vi has announced the launch of its 5G services in Kochi starting Monday, followed by Thiruvananthapuram on August 20. The company also recently launched its 5G services in Kozhikode and Malappuram.
The expansion is part of Vi’s ongoing 5G rollout across multiple cities, in its 17 priority circles, where it has acquired 5G spectrum.
The customers in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram with 5G-enabled devices can access Vi 5G services. As an introductory offer, the company is providing unlimited 5G data to users on plans starting from ₹299. Customers can enjoy high-definition streaming, gaming, video conferencing, faster downloads and real-time cloud access.
George Mathew V, Business Head – Kerala, Vodafone Idea, told reporters that with its next-gen 5G alongside 4G services, the company aims to provide more options and an enhanced experience to users. “We are committed to systematically expanding our 5G footprint across Kerala, in line with growing demand and 5G handset adoption,” he said.
Vi has partnered with Ericsson in Kerala to deploy advanced, energy-efficient infrastructure and implemented AI-powered Self-Organising Networks (SON) to automatically optimise network performance.
In parallel with its 5G roll out, the company has also significantly upgraded its 4G network in Kerala to deliver enhanced coverage, faster data speeds and an overall superior user experience. It also launched 4G services in Lakshadweep islands in November last year.
Since March 2024, it has successfully deployed 900 MHz spectrum on over 1,400 sites to strengthen indoor coverage, deployed 2,100 MHz spectrum on 4,300 sites, augmented capacity by layer addition and expanded spectrum bandwidth, enhancing both reach and data traffic handling capabilities. These upgrades, implemented over 15 months from April 2024 to June 2025, have led to a 22 per cent capacity increase in Kerala and help deliver consistent and high-quality connectivity across urban and rural areas.
Published on August 18, 2025
