Idea and Vodafone heads met Modi and sought speedy clearances for merger

Looks like Vodafone and Idea are in a hurry to get their merger formalities completed soon. This is probably the reason why Vittorio Colao (Vodafone Group CEO) and Kumar Mangalam Birla (chairman of the Aditya Birla Group) are believed to have met PM Modi.

Also read: Voda-Idea merger expected to benefit telecom industry, say experts

In the meeting that lasted 45 minutes approx, the heads of both groups are believed to have informed the PM about the details and reasons behind the merger. They also sought help from the government regarding faster clearances so that the deal can be concluded rapidly.

Along with Colao and Birla, the meeting also saw Vodafone India MD Sunil Sood, company director P Balaji, and Idea Cellular MD Himanshu Kapania, sources told ET.

Also read: Telecom experts think Jio could still beat Voda-Idea in short term

The merger between Vodafone and Idea will lead to the creation of India’s biggest telecom company, displacing Bharti Airtel from its position that it has held for 15 years.

(Image source: Bloomberg Quint)