NEW DELHI: Ericsson has appointed Randeep Raina as Head of Customer Unit Vodafone Idea (Vi), reinforcing its leadership team as it deepens collaboration with the telecom operator to accelerate network modernization and next-generation connectivity in India.

Raina, who brings over 27 years of experience across technology, sales, strategy and business development, will be based in Mumbai. He will report to Andres Vicente, CEO of Ericsson's Market Area Southeast Asia, Oceania and India, and will be a part of the regional leadership team. He succeeds Krishna Patil, who has been appointed Executive Advisor to Andres Vicente.

Before joining Ericsson, Raina served as Head of Telco and Strategic Partnerships at Google India. He also held the position of Chief Technology and Strategy Officer at Nokia Networks India, gaining extensive experience in telecom technology, digital transformation and strategic partnerships.

In his new role, Raina will lead Ericsson's engagement with Vodafone Idea, working closely with the telecom operator to support its network evolution and accelerate the deployment of advanced connectivity solutions.

Welcoming the appointment, Andres Vicente said Raina's leadership experience, strategic vision and customer-first approach would further strengthen Ericsson's partnership with Vodafone Idea and support the operator's network transformation ambitions.

He also acknowledged Krishna Patil's contribution in building a strong and trusted partnership with Vi, adding that Ericsson remains committed to supporting India's digital transformation by helping operators create value and deliver enhanced customer experiences.

Ericsson and Vodafone Idea have maintained a long-standing strategic partnership focused on expanding India's digital infrastructure. Most recently, Vi selected Ericsson's cloud-native Charging solution to modernize its postpaid services while continuing to strengthen its 4G and 5G networks through capacity expansion, network augmentation and AI-powered operations.