Indian operator Vodafone Idea (VI) launched its 5G network in Kochi and revealed Thiruvananthapuram would be the next city to have it activated, as it pushes on with an ambition to switch on the service in multiple cities across 17 regions.

The company plans to launch in Thiruvananthapuram on 20 August. It noted the latest pair of locations, both in the state of Kerala, follow the recent addition of nearby cities of Kozhikode and Malappuram to its 5G estate.

VI rivals Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio both launched 5G in parts of India in 2022 and have since rolled out across the country, while VI only started offering the network commercially in certain areas this year.

The operator has 5G suitable spectrum covering 17 of India’s 22 service areas and has already launched in several major urban hubs including Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

VI business head for Kerala George Mathew V said: “With our next-gen 5G alongside our robust 4G services, we aim to provide more options and an enhanced experience to our users. We are committed to systematically expanding our 5G footprint across Kerala, in line with growing demand and 5G handset adoption.”

The company is promoting adoption with an introductory unlimited data offer priced from INR299 ($3.42).