Key Points
European telecom gear makers Nokia and Ericsson have refused to supply 5G equipment to Vodafone Idea (Vi) on credit, people aware of the matter said.. Financially stressed Vi, which has yet to place an order for 5G equipment, was seeking relaxation in payment terms, they told ET...
"Nokia and Ericsson have told Vi that they can supply equipment to the company only after getting an upfront payment," one of the persons cited earlier said..
"Vi already owes '3,500-4,000 crore to the vendors, and while partial payments are being made, the company is not yet near to clearing the total dues."..
An executive working with one of the vendors said that Nokia and Ericsson are supplying the majority of their 5G equipment to Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, which are fast ramping up their networks...
"The company will continue to make investments for expanding 4G coverage and capacity, especially in its 17 priority circles, and introduce 5G once funding is in place," Vi's chairman Ravinder Takkar said.. Vi has been telling the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that it will commence 5G rollout once funding is secured and it has undertaken 5G trials...
