Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea (Vi) is set to gain from a slump in demand for 5G network gear globally, including India, that has dented recent earnings at companies such as Nokia and Ericsson.Despite the Indian telecom operator’s precarious financial condition, global network equipment vendors are likely to prefer working with Vi, which still has more than 200 million users, but needs to urgently expand 4G network capacity and also start 5G rollouts to compete effectively with bigger rivals Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.
“Given that Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are likely to cut capex spending in FY25, having virtually completed their pan-India 5G rollouts and seen little by way of monetisation, combined with the global slowdown in 5G deployments, network vendors would definitely welcome any fresh 5G contracts from Vi as long as they are on a cash & carry model,” a top executive at a…
