Vodafone Idea announced a strategic partnership with Xiaomi, that'll now enable Xiaomi's devices to be 5G-enabled on Vi's network. Vodafone Idea is slated to launch its 5G services nationwide soon, and this new partnership is expected to make the experience hassle-free for users. For Xiaomi, its users get an enhanced data experience with 5G.
In a statement, Xiaomi said, "In pursuit of a connected tomorrow and to unlock the boundless potential of 5G in India, Xiaomi, and Vi are coming together to empower their consumers with an unfiltered 5G network on their devices." A list of 18 devices was also released on which 5G has been tested.
Vodafone Idea - Xiaomi team up
The full list of devices announced in the statement includes Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, Redmi Note 12 5G, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Mi 11 Ultra, Mi 11X Pro, Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G, Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G, Redmi 11 Prime 5G, Redmi K50i, Redmi Note 11T 5G, Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, Mi 11X, Mi 10, Mi 10T, Mi 10T Pro, and Mi 10i.
The point to note is that these devices will support 5G on Vodafone Idea's network after a firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) update on the handsets, once the telco rolls out 5G.
These smartphones already support 5G network on Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.
Users of the above-mentioned smartphones only have to change their preferred network settings to 5G once the telecom provider rolls out its 5G services. Vi is the only remaining telco that is yet to offer its 5G services, given that Airtel and Jio have already rolled their services out.
Still in its testing phase, 5G services haven't been rolled out by Vi yet. Nothing is known from the statement about when Vodafone Idea plans to launch its 5G services.
The cash-strapped telecom operator is looking to raise additional funding after the government acquired a stake, and is in talks with telecom equipment makers for its 5G rollout.
The statement also highlighted that "Xiaomi India remains committed to democratizing technology for consumers across the country by providing them with the best-in-class technology experience at an honest price point."
Vi Previously Partnered with OnePlus
Previously in September 2022, Vodafone Idea partnered with OnePlus to make 5G accessible in its handsets. OnePlus is one of the leading brands offering 5G support in most of its smartphones. The telco had then said that it plans to expand partnerships with OEMs to help drive the 5G ecosystem.
Source: https://www.gizbot.com/telecom/news/vodafone-idea-announces-5g-partnership-with-xiaomi-084823.html
