The Department of Telecom (DoT) has issued notice to telecom operators to pay their license fees and spectrum usage charges within three months as mandated by the Supreme Court. The DoT has given option to telecom operators to clear all the dues on individual assessments.
The apex court had upheld the definition of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) calculation as stipulated by the DoT. The court held that all revenues, except for termination fee and roaming charges, will be a part of the AGR while telcos argued that non-telecom, non-core revenues should not be a part of the AGR. In the next two weeks, the telecom department will seek the Cabinet's approval on the panel's proposals. Vodafone's decision to halt further investments in India has also given rise to concern.
According to an internal estimate prepared by the DoT, total dues on the telecom service providers arising out of SC order are around Rs 1.33 trillion. As per DoT's estimate, liability of Bharti Airtel Group stands at Rs 62,187.73 crore, Vodafone Idea at Rs 54,183.9 crore and BSNL and MTNL at Rs 10,675.18 crore.