Vodafone Idea and state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) have reached an agreement to expand network sharing across all telecom circles, according to sources reported by CNBC Awaaz. The development follows a meeting between Vodafone Idea CEO Abhijit Kishore and BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Robert J. Ravi on Tuesday. Under the proposed arrangement, the two companies are expected to enter into both intra-circle and inter-circle roaming agreements, allowing their subscribers to access each other's networks across different service areas.
The network-sharing arrangement includes sharing of network infrastructure, including telecom towers and optical fibre, as part of the broader arrangement. The companies are also expected to share network infrastructure, including telecom towers and optical fibre, as part of the broader arrangement. According to the Department of Telecommunications, BSNL had leased around 1,441 towers to Vodafone Idea as of April 2026. The two companies already have an intra-circle roaming arrangement in Delhi and Mumbai, under which BSNL subscribers can use Vodafone Idea's network on a revenue-sharing basis.
The network-sharing arrangement could provide Vodafone Idea with additional revenue from BSNL subscribers using its network, particularly in areas where BSNL has limited network coverage. For BSNL, the arrangement could help expand its reach in rural and other areas through access to Vodafone Idea's network. The Department of Telecommunications had earlier this month that BSNL and Vodafone Idea were discussing deeper infrastructure sharing, including for 4G and 5G services.
India's telecom sector is undergoing significant regulatory changes with the final 'Telecommunications (User Identification) Rules, 2026' rules notified last Friday, which replace the controversial Biometric Identity Verification System (BIVS). The new rules retain mandatory biometric verification but abandon the proposed cross-operator biometric database after privacy concerns from civil society groups. Operators including Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea and BSNL must now confirm user identity before issuing SIM cards, updating records or disconnecting numbers. Aadhaar holders will be verified through UIDAI's authentication facility, while non-Aadhaar users will undergo D-KYC processes involving live face capture and ID document scans.
