Vodafone Idea is currently testing its 5G services across cities such as Delhi and Pune

Indian operators Vodafone Idea and Adani Data Networks have approached the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to request an extension for meeting the minimum obligation to launch 5G services in the country, local newspaper Financial Express reported.

Under the current rules, operators have until August 16 to fulfill with minimum 5G obligations in terms of coverage. Vodafone Idea has indicated that it failed to launch 5G services until now due to funding challenges, while the Adani Group is still working on deploying by using spectrum in the 26 GHz band for private networks.

Adani Data Networks, which is a subsidiary of Adani Group, had secured 400 megahertz of spectrum in the 26 GHz band. The company won 100 megahertz each in Gujarat and Mumbai and 50 megahertz each in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

Adani Data Networks had said it will not provide 5G services for the consumer market but will use these frequencies to deploy 5G private networks to support the conglomerate’s connectivity needs.

As per the government’s guidelines, Indian telecom operators are required to commercially launch 5G services in both metro and non-metro circles.

Vodafone Idea is currently testing its 5G services across cities such as Delhi and Pune and has already deployed 36 tower sites.

“The company has made 5G clusters in Delhi and Pune where it had partnered with various original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to test the compatibility of available 5G handsets. It has completed device testing of all major OEMs on its 5G network,” Vodafone Idea had said in its annual report for fiscal year 2023.

Vodafone Idea CEO Akshaya Moondra had recently said that “minimum rollout obligation is more a compliance requirement and we will work on that, but we are looking for a wider coverage.”

Vodafone Idea also confirmed “advanced talks” with a number of vendorsdefine its final strategy for the deployment of 5G in India.

The deployment will be accelerated subsequent to the consummation of fund raising, Vodafone Idea said. Vodafone previously stated it was negotiating loans with local bankssecure the necessary funds to launch 5G.

Rival operators Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio Infocomm are currently providing 5G connectivity in thousands of towns and cities across India, while the government previously confirmed that state-run telco BSNL will be in a position to launch 5G in 2024.

India is forecast to reach 700 million 5G subscribers by the end of 2028, as local carriers are carrying out an aggressive strategy in terms of 5G deployment, according to the latest edition of Ericsson’s Mobility report.

The report showed that 5G technology will account for 57% of total mobile subscriptions in India by that year, adding that eMBB and FWA are already emerging as the initial use cases for 5G.