Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) might award new network contracts for its pan India radio network to Nokia, Ericsson and Huawei. As per the proposed contract, Nokia would get 11 circles, Ericsson would get 7 circles and Huawei would get around 4-5 circles. In this regard, VIL has been running requests for proposals (RFPs) for its pan-India network and negotiating new contracts.

Currently, Nokia works in 10 circles for Vodafone India and five circles for Idea Cellular, Ericsson works in five circles with Vodafone and eight circles with Idea and Huawei works in three circles with Vodafone and four circles with Idea.

The new network strategy will comprise reallocation of existing sites, wherein VIL will deploy redundant 3G/4G networks in rural areas and modernization of networks, which would include the new requirement of radio base stations.

Further, once the radio networks contracts have been awarded, the operator would take another month to award new contracts for core network under phase two.