Rs 1,200 billion debt to weigh on Vodafone-Idea, may hit growth plans

The merged entity would lead the market with a revenue market share of about 37% against Airtel's 31.2% and Jio's 14.5%

With a debt of Rs 1,200 billion, Vodafone and Idea will have to work harder together to turn profitable as the consolidating mobile telephony market in the country changes rapidly.

When the merger is completed, Vodafone-Idea would have the largest subscriber base, about 400 million. But it will also be the most indebted telecom company. Its consolidated debt will be 30 per cent higher than Bharti Airtel’s Rs 953 billion and nearly three times that of Reliance Jio’s Rs 395 billion, as of end September last year.

This might even hit the merged entity’s growth plans, though it will be