Vodafone Idea flags Airtel’s 5G priority plans; Jio backs network slicing

Vodafone Idea (Vi) has escalated India's fierce telecom war, directly challenging rival Bharti Airtel "priority postpaid plans" leveraging 5G network slicing. This unprecedented public broadside on Thursday alleges that Airtel's tiered 5G services violate principles of equity and an equal digital ecosystem, even as market leader Reliance Jio surprisingly backed the network slicing technology, albeit advocating for a transparent, non-discriminatory framework. At stake is the future of differentiated 5G services in the world's second-largest telecom market. While 5G slicing allows operators to carve out dedicated, high-performance virtual networks for specific use cases – from enterprise applications to premium consumer tiers – Vi argues that offering preferential speeds based on user profile contravenes India's established net neutrality guidelines, which mandate equal treatment of all data. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has been deliberating a framework for network slicing, with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) also engaged in policy formulation, making Vi timing a direct plea for regulatory intervention. The industry awaits TRAI definitive stance, which is expected to shape how 5G monetization strategies evolve and whether telecom operators can truly unlock the technology's full potential for diverse, high-value services. A regulatory decision favoring strict net neutrality could limit operators' ability to segment their networks and offer premium experiences, potentially dampening investment in advanced 5G capabilities. Conversely, a more flexible approach could spark further innovation but risks re-igniting debates over digital equality and access. The outcome will set a critical precedent for India's digital future.