Govt mulling to allow 100% FDI in Telecom services under automatic route

21 Dec 2017 Evaluate

The government is looking at further easing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the telecom services including infrastructure, by allowing 100 percent foreign equity through the automatic route which allows firms to attract foreign funds without its approval. At present, all telecom services, including telecom infrastructure providers, such as basic, cellular, unified access services, unified licence (access services), unified licence, dark fibre, right of way, duct space and tower have FDI cap/equity up to 100 percent and automatic up to 49 percent. The inflow of overseas investment beyond that requires government approval because of security reasons.

Increasing the FDI limit to 100 percent under automatic route for infrastructure providers would create transparency and abolish bureaucracy or red-tapism. The proposal is likely to be considered by the Telecom Commission, the apex decision-making body of the Department of Telecom. The panel is also likely to discuss the relief package recommended by an inter-ministerial group (IMG) for the telecom sector which is reeling under debt of around Rs 4.5 lakh crore. The panel may also consider the approval of grants for IITs to set up a lab for indigenous development and testing of 5G technologies.

Earlier, the Telecom Commission had in-principle approved the extension of time period for the payment of spectrum bought in auctions by telcos to 16 years from the current 10 years, as recommended by the IMG. It had also approved the IMG recommendation to lower the interest rate charged over penalties imposed on service providers with slight modifications.


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