Telecoms dial DoT to reach settlement plan on AGR issue

Bharti Airtel, Tata Teleservices (TTSL) and Vodafone Idea will approach the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in order to negotiate a settlement plan on the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) issue.
Smartphone user in AfricaThese three telecom operators on Monday moved a joint application before India’s Supreme Court seeking modifications to the earlier ruling that said the telecom companies should pay their AGR dues before January 23, Hindu BusinessLine reported.

The companies aim to seek an extension to the deadline to pay the dues, negotiate a payment schedule and seek waiver of penalties among others as part of the proposed settlement plan with DoT.

The Supreme Court on January 17 dismissed the plea of some of the telecom operators who sought a review of its earlier order asking them to pay Rs 1.47-lakh crore in past statutory AGR dues by January 23.

The AGR dues of Bharti Airtel stand at more than Rs 35,500 crore. Vodafone Idea needs to pay more than Rs 53,000 crore. Tata Teleservices, which sold its consumer mobility business to Airtel, has dues of Rs 13,823 crore.

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea earlier said they would file curative petitions before the Supreme Court.

Bharti Airtel has already mobilized $3 billion to address AGR issues. Vodafone Idea is likely to struggle in the wake of AGR due.