Vodafone Idea Ltd to declare integration; plans rebranding to VI

Vodafone Idea Ltd on Monday will declare its integration into one brand called ‘VI’, years after the completion of Vodafone India Ltd, stated people aware about the development. The rebranding is a part of the company’s efforts to lessen price of preserving brands, the people stated, asking for anonymity.

Vodafone and Idea persevered with their independent brand and advertising campaigns put up the merger in August 2018. While Idea has been a mass rural-targeted brand, Vodafone appeals to the premium urban crowd. The telecom operator, however, witnessed that the city-rural attraction of the 2 brands took a success under Vodafone Idea.

Earlier this yr, Vodafone Idea introduced a shift of its premium postpaid client base to brand Vodafone from Idea as the control accepted that the latter did not have the brand value to fee a premium.

The rebranding selection comes amid the company’s plans to elevate funds. Vodafone Idea on Friday stated it will increase up to ₹25,000 crore. Its board permitted fundraising after you have readability from the Supreme Court on staggered charge of presidency dues.

The fundraising will be via the sale of stocks or non-convertible debentures (NCDs). Both routes of fundraising have a restriction of ₹15,000 crore each. The proposed fundraising is problem to regulatory and shareholders’ approvals. Vodafone Idea will take in the suggestion at its annual general meeting on 30 September.

Before it is been reported, bringing up people aware about the negotiations, that Amazon.com Inc. and Verizon Communications, the biggest wireless provider in the US, are set to renew talks to buy a substantial stake in debt-ridden Vodafone Idea. The stake-sale talks have been paused due to the case associated with the adjusted gross sales (AGR) dues.

The Supreme Court on 1 September granted telcos 10 years for charge of AGR dues. The court ordered an prematurely charge of 10% on the overall dues as demanded through the branch of telecommunications (DoT) by 31 March. The closing shall be paid in 10 identical instalments at an interest fee of 8%.

Telecom specialists agree with that Vodafone Idea desires fresh equity, higher tariff and concession in numerous government levies to hold operations except paying the annual instalment of the AGR dues that encompass spectrum usage charges, license fee, interest, penalty and interest on penalty. Vodafone Idea owes the authorities ₹58,254 crore.

The mobile operator will want to more than double its common sales per user (Arpu) to fulfill its AGR reimbursement obligations. Vodafone’s Arpu fell to ₹114 in the June sector from ₹121 in the fourth sector of fiscal yr 2020.