Vodafone Idea exploring option to monetise data centres to pare debt

NEW DELHI: Debt-ridden telecom operator Vodafone Idea on Friday said it is exploring to monetise data centres as part of the company’s debt reduction plans.

Apart from data centres, Vodafone Idea (VIL) plans to monetise its 11.15 per cent stake in Indus Towers on completion of the Indus Towers-Bharti Infratel merger and is also exploring options to monetise nearly 1.6 lakh kilometres of intra-city and inter-city fibre as well as data centres.

“Separately, we are also exploring the opportunity to monetise our data centres. We believe this will provide us financial flexibility,” Vodafone Idea MD and CEO Ravinder Takkar said.

Gross debt on Vodafone Idea as of September 30, 2019, was Rs 1,17,300 crore including deferred spectrum payment obligations of Rs 89,170 crore to the government.