Vodafone starts 4G rollout with Kochi launch

India’s second largest telecom operator Vodafone launched fourth-generation (4G) telecom services in Kochi in Kerala, the service to be operational from December 14 onward.

The telco launched services on 1800 MHz band, and is offering free 4G upgrade with a SIM, with a trial pack of 120MB at Rs 29 and a bonanza pack of 20GB at Rs 2499, the company said in a statement.

Vodafone 4G-LTE services can be accessed from 4G-enabled handsets offered by smartphone makers such as Apple, Samsung, Micromax, Microsoft, Lava and Xolo.

Testing of 4G services in these locations has already commenced and Vodafone has partnered with leading global technology service providers for the network roll-out.

The company has invested Rs 700 crore in Kerala towards network expansion for 3G and 4G in the last 18 months.

“Vodafone’s global expertise and experience of launching 4G across 19 countries gives us a better understanding of this technology and the needs of the 4G customer,” Vodafone India MD and CEO Sunil Sood said in a statement.

The company’s 4G service in Kochi will be available from December 14, which is built on a fibre backhaul, and is supported by its own new 3G services on a network of 2100 MHz.

Vodafone said it has become the first telecom operator in Kerala to offer 2G, 3G and 4G services on its own network.

Bharti Airtel on August 6 had announced launch of its 4G mobile phone services and now covers over 350 towns. Reliance Jio, the telecom arm of the cash-rich conglomerate Reliance Industries is likely to start 4G voice and data services in December.

While, Idea Cellular is planning to launch 4G services in 750 towns across 10 circles by the first half of 2016.

Much waited Reliance Jio 4G Services all set to launch in Dec 2015.