The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday cleared the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular with conditions to deposit Rs 3,911 crore as spectrum dues and a bank guarantee of Rs 2,153 crore. The merger of Vodafone India-Idea Cellular will create the largest mobile firm surpassing Bharti Airtel and leaving the telecom market with three private players – Bharti AIrtel, Vodafone Idea, Reliance Jio and a telecom PSU BSNL/MTNL. The merger will mark the end of the consolidation spree in the telecom market where many small players had to exit because of intense competition. The combined operations of Idea and Vodafone will create the country's largest telecom operator worth over $23 billion with a 35% market share and a subscriber base of around 430 million.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday cleared the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular with conditions to deposit Rs 3,911 crore as spectrum dues and a bank guarantee of Rs 2,153 crore. The merger of Vodafone India-Idea Cellular will create the largest mobile firm surpassing Bharti Airtel and leaving the telecom market with three private players – Bharti AIrtel, Vodafone Idea, Reliance Jio and a telecom PSU BSNL/MTNL. The merger will mark the end of the consolidation spree in the telecom market where many small players had to exit because of intense competition. The combined operations of Idea and Vodafone will create the country's largest telecom operator worth over $23 billion with a 35% market share and a subscriber base of around 430 million.