New Delhi, Aug. 5 -- Debt-ridden telecom firm Vodafone Idea sees the need for a tariff hike to sustain investments in the network, even as the company continues to discuss with lenders to fund its Rs.45,000 crore capex plan, its Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla said on Wednesday.

In a letter to shareholders, Birla said broadband subscriptions crossed the one billion mark in March 2026, driven by mobile connectivity, which has become the country's primary gateway to the digital economy.

"Yet India's Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) remains among the lowest in the world. Periodic tariff adjustments are therefore essential if operators are to sustain investment and finance the rollout of next-generation networks," Birla said.

Vodafone Idea (V...