Airtel, VIL could save big with Centre’s rethink on spectrum charge

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) may have to pay less than Rs 2,000 crore each as one-time spectrum charge (OTSC), or substantially lower than what they have accounted for currently, if the government decides to not appeal against an earlier telecom tribunal verdict, a senior government official said.

“The DoT (Department of Telecommunications) will now get down to recalculations and if the call is taken to withdraw appeal, then Airtel and Vi may have to pay about Rs 2,000 crore each, or even less than that,” the official said, asking not to be named.

But the government will also have to take into account the current financial situation of loss-making Vodafone Idea and consider if the OTSC can also be brought under a moratorium currently covering the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) instalments and spectrum payments, the official added. Telecom Live