Vi Chairman Calls for Tariff Rationalisation to Sustain Telecom Sector

Kumar Mangalam Birla, the chairman of Vodafone Idea, said phone companies in India may need to charge more over time.

He said Indian customers currently pay some of the lowest average prices in the world.

According to him, higher and more suitable prices could help telecom companies maintain networks and build new technology.

Vodafone Idea plans to focus on mobile connections, connected devices, cloud services, security and wholesale services.

Examples of connected-device services include connected cars, smart meters and vehicle tracking.

Birla said Vodafone Idea is strong in connected cars and wants to expand in other areas.

The company said it began gaining subscribers each month from February 2026.

Its average revenue per customer rose to ₹190 in FY26.

The company also received funding and placed ₹9,000 crore in network investment orders.