Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Vodafone Idea, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, ZTE, among others.
Vi Slips Behind as Jio & Airtel Race Ahead: Subscriber Shake-Up Ahead
A Centrum report forecasts India’s telecom market growth in Q4FY26, driven by rising average revenue per user (ARPU), 2G to 4G/5G migration, and expanding postpaid segments. Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are expected to add around 5 million and 6.5 million subscribers, respectively, while Vodafone Idea (Vi) may lose about 1 million subscribers, further reducing its market share. The report highlights the ongoing competitive pressure on Vi as it struggles to keep pace with its larger rivals, emphasizing that subscriber gains and losses are shaping the market dynamics ahead.
Vodafone Idea Gets AGR Relief: DoT Extends Reassessment Deadline to June
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has extended the deadline to complete the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues reassessment for Vodafone Idea Limited from March 31 to June 2026. This reassessment follows the government’s earlier decision to freeze Vodafone Idea’s AGR dues at around ₹87,695 crore for FY 2006‑07 to FY 2018‑19, based on a Supreme Court order — excluding amounts already finalised by the apex court. A special committee constituted by DoT will review the frozen dues and finalise the outcome by June, with its decision being binding on both the government and Vodafone Idea.
Tashkent’s Tech Transformation: ZTE Launches Regional Hub to Power Central Asia’s Digital Future
ZTE’s inauguration of a Regional Service Center at IT Park Uzbekistan in Tashkent marks a strategic milestone in transforming the nation into a high-tech gateway between Central Asia and Europe. By focusing on advanced technical support, cloud infrastructure, and data center capabilities, this initiative aims to significantly accelerate Uzbekistan’s IT service exports and attract further foreign investment. Beyond infrastructure, the center acts as a catalyst for economic growth, fostering high-value job creation and the upskilling of local professionals to meet international digital standards. This partnership not only strengthens the region’s digital backbone through 5G and secure ICT solutions but also cements Uzbekistan’s emerging reputation as a competitive, innovation-driven hub for global technology giants.
SHAFANA FAZAL
