Hyderabad: Vodafone Idea (Vi) has signed a 25-year agreement with ACES India Private Limited to provide 4G and 5G mobile connectivity on Mumbai Metro Aqua Line-3. The partnership will bring Vi into the neutral digital infrastructure ecosystem that ACES India is developing for the metro corridor.
ACES India, a wholly owned company of the ACES Group, operates as a neutral digital infrastructure provider. Under the agreement, Vi will join the multi-operator network being developed across Mumbai Metro Aqua Line-3.
The shared infrastructure will allow multiple telecom operators to provide mobile services to their customers through a common platform. As a result, passengers using different telecom networks can access connectivity across the metro system.
Mumbai Metro Aqua Line-3 stretches about 33.5 kilometres and has 27 stations. The corridor runs from Aarey JVLR to Cuffe Parade and connects major commercial, residential and transport centres across Mumbai.
The infrastructure has been planned around an ultimate annual capacity of more than 625 million passengers. The scale of the corridor creates a significant requirement for reliable mobile connectivity across stations and underground sections.
Vi customers will get connectivity across metro stations, concourses and platforms under the project. Coverage will also extend into underground tunnels, allowing passengers to remain connected during their journeys.
The network will support voice calls, mobile data and digital services. Passengers will also be able to access online entertainment and other internet-based services while travelling through the metro corridor.
According to the company, the partnership strengthens Vi’s focus on providing reliable connectivity in densely populated urban environments. It also aims to improve the network experience for customers using a major public transport system.
Vi 4G/5G services strengthen the metro connectivity ecosystem
ACES Group CEO Dr Akram AbuRas welcomed Vi to the digital infrastructure ecosystem for Mumbai Metro Aqua Line-3. He described the 25-year agreement as an important step towards building a multi-operator connectivity platform.
AbuRas said ACES’ neutral-host infrastructure enables telecom operators to provide 4G and 5G services. He added that the platform would help address the growing digital requirements of millions of metro passengers.
ACES India Managing Director Mohammed N. Mazhar said Vi’s participation would further strengthen the connectivity ecosystem being developed for Aqua Line-3. He said the company aimed to build a robust and scalable platform for future requirements.
Mazhar added that the infrastructure would help telecom operators deliver reliable services in complex underground environments. He also linked the project to the changing connectivity needs of Mumbai’s commuters.
Vi Chief Technology Officer Jagbir Singh said the continued growth of digital usage in India had increased the importance of strong connectivity infrastructure across public transport networks.
Singh said the partnership with ACES India reflected Vi’s effort to provide an improved network experience above and below ground. He added that uninterrupted 4G and 5G connectivity on Aqua Line-3 would support India’s digital transformation through a major urban infrastructure project.
With Vi joining the platform, ACES India is expanding its neutral digital infrastructure on Mumbai Metro Aqua Line-3. The shared system is designed to allow multiple telecom operators to deliver advanced mobile services through the same infrastructure.
The company said the approach would help meet rising demand for fast and uninterrupted connectivity along an important Mumbai transport corridor. It also aims to prepare the metro network for future digital requirements as passenger connectivity needs continue to grow.
The 25-year agreement therefore adds Vi to the multi-operator ecosystem planned for the corridor. The infrastructure will cover key passenger areas as well as underground sections, extending mobile connectivity across the metro journey.
