Vodafone Idea and state-run BSNL are in advanced talks to share telecom networks across all circles in India, sources said.

The arrangement, once formalised, would let both companies lean on each other’s infrastructure instead of building everything from scratch in every region. That includes intra-circle roaming, inter-circle roaming, and even sharing physical assets like towers and optical fibre.

This development follows a meeting between Vodafone Idea CEO Abhijit Kishore and BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Robert J. Ravi, which took place on Tuesday. While neither company has issued an official statement yet, sources familiar with the discussions say the plan is meant to cover every telecom circle in the country.

So why does this matter? For Vodafone Idea, tapping into BSNL’s subscriber base could open up a new revenue stream, especially in pockets where Vi’s own network coverage is thin. For BSNL, the reverse holds true.

Gaining access to Vodafone Idea’s infrastructure would help it reach more customers in rural and semi-urban areas where its own network has struggled to keep pace.

This isn’t a completely new idea for the two companies. They already run a smaller intra-circle roaming setup in Delhi and Mumbai, where BSNL subscribers can use Vodafone Idea’s network on a revenue-sharing basis.

Earlier this month, the Department of Telecommunications had confirmed that both operators were in talks to deepen this kind of infrastructure sharing, extending it to 4G and 5G services as well.

There’s also a prior equipment sharing arrangement in place. As of April 2026, BSNL had leased around 1,441 towers to Vodafone Idea, according to data from the Department of Telecommunications.

Put together, this expanded pact reflects a broader shift in India’s telecom sector. Vodafone Idea is trying to widen its network footprint while keeping a lid on capital spending, and BSNL is looking to make its existing infrastructure work harder through shared arrangements that cut costs and add revenue on both sides.

Vodafone Idea has not responded to queries on the latest development.

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