Outlook of telecom sector in 2013 will be negative: Fitch

06 Dec 2012 Evaluate

According to credit rating firm Fitch, the 2013 outlook for the country’s scam impacted telecom sector will be negative, due to the weak balance sheets due to regulatory payments to re-acquire licences and continuing limited ability to raise tariffs, given the high level of competition. Also, the Rs 14,000 crore base price set for auction for all- India spectrum is considered to high by the telecom firms.

The Government decision to change spectrum-allocation policy from a fixed-cost regime to an auction of all existing and future spectrum assets will significantly raise the cost of licences and spectrum, which will weaken the credit metrics of most telecom firms, if funded by debt, Fitch said. On February 2, the Supreme Court had cancelled 122 telecom licences on grounds of impropriety in policy implementation. Subsequently, the apex court directed the government to re-auction all the 122 cancelled licences.

Further, Fitch added that top four operators by revenue market share, Bharti Airtel (Bharti, BBB- /negative), Vodafone, Idea Cellular and RCom, will have to pay significant amounts for a one-off charge for excess spectrum (above 4.4MHz) and re-farming as well as future auctions of radiowaves, and believes the payment of one-off charge by telecom firms and re-farming costs will happen in 2013.

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