Vodafone Idea has appointed Ms. Gopika Pant as an Independent Woman Director on its Board. The appointment takes effect on September 17, 2026, for a term of five years.

The Board approved the move on September 14, 2026, following a recommendation from the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. Ms. Pant serves as an Additional Director pending final approval from the company's members.

Appointment Details

Ms. Pant holds DIN 00388675 and brings over 40 years of legal experience to the role. She is dual-qualified in India and admitted to the Bar in New York, USA.

Professional Background

Ms. Pant completed her B.A. (Hons) from St. Stephen's College in 1982 and LL.B. from Delhi University in 1985. She earned an LL.M. from Columbia University in 1986 and worked in New York City from 1986 to 1990.

She was a Partner at India's leading law firm before setting up Indian Law Partners (ILP) in 1999. Her expertise covers cross-border transactions, mergers, acquisitions, private equity, and corporate restructurings.

Ms. Pant has been listed in the Forbes India Legal Powerlist in 2020 and 2021. She has also appeared consecutively for the past 10 years in the 'A' List of India's top 100 lawyers by the India Business Law Journal.

Regulatory Compliance

The company disclosed the appointment under Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Regulations, 2015. The Board also approved a Postal Ballot Notice to seek member approval for the appointments of Mr. Anil Berera and Ms. Gopika Pant as Independent Directors.

Ms. Pant is not related to any existing Director of the Company. She is not debarred from holding office pursuant to any SEBI order or other authority.

Vodafone Idea reported a turnaround in subscriber growth during the first quarter of FY27, posting net positive additions after four consecutive quarters of decline. The telecom operator also delivered double-digit growth in average revenue per user (ARPU) and expanded its EBITDA margins.

The company filed its investor presentation with stock exchanges on September 15, 2026, under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

Financial Performance

Revenue rose 6.0% year-on-year to ₹11,689 crore in Q1FY27, compared to ₹11,023 crore in the same quarter last year. EBITDA grew 9.1% to ₹5,034 crore, while cash EBITDA increased 13.5% to ₹2,475 crore.

Customer ARPU climbed 10.2% to ₹195, driven by a favorable shift in the subscriber mix toward higher-value 4G and 5G users. Data usage surged 27.9% to 88.4 petabytes per day.

Subscriber Trends

Total subscribers stood at 193.1 million at the end of Q1FY27, reflecting net positive additions of 0.3 million. This marks a reversal from the net losses recorded in the preceding four quarters:

• Q4FY26: -0.1 million
• Q3FY26: -3.8 million
• Q2FY26: -1.0 million
• Q1FY26: -0.5 million

The share of 4G/5G subscribers improved to 67.4% of the total base, reaching 130.1 million. Broadband sites expanded by 15.6 thousand to 205 thousand.

What the Numbers Show

The divergence between revenue growth (6.0%) and EBITDA growth (9.1%) indicates operating leverage as fixed costs are spread over higher volumes. Additionally, the sharp rise in data usage (27.9%) outpaced the modest increase in 4G/5G subscriber count (2.2%), suggesting deeper engagement from existing high-speed users rather than just new acquisition driving consumption.

Strategic Initiatives

Vodafone Idea outlined its "1-2-3 Strategy" focusing on sustained subscriber addition, double-digit revenue growth, and tripling cash EBITDA within three years. Key initiatives include:

• Network Expansion: A capex plan of ₹45,000 crore through FY29 to regain coverage parity in 17 key circles, which account for approximately 99% of company revenue.
• Brand Reappraisal: Launch of a new identity campaign featuring brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan, aiming to drive subscriber growth through inclusivity messaging.
• Service Differentiation: Implementation of AI-led initiatives like "Super Agents" and voice biometrics to reduce assisted customer interactions by 50%.

Debt from banks declined significantly to ₹211 crore in Q1FY27, down from ₹1,926 crore a year earlier, while cash and cash equivalents stood at ₹6,558 crore.