Telcos request TRAI to discontinue bank guarantees

The three telcos have unanimously approached TRAI to discontinue bank guarantees in various licences/authorisations. They do not serve any purpose in securing government revenues. They only impose costs on telcos and CCAs use them to settle demands, writes Reliance Jio in its submission.

If the regulator still wants to maintain them, the FBG and PBG could be merged into a consolidated single BG, and the quantum should be reduced by 50%, pushes Vi.

“Irrespective of the nature of licence, the entry fee should not be reduced, to ensure healthy competition and level playing field prevails in the industry, which would enable the sector to attract investments and encourage only serious players,” Airtel said in its submission.

CT Bureau