Government explores options to alleviate Vodafone Idea's (Vi) AGR dues burden, including extending payment periods and converting interest, to prevent collapse and protect its investment. Key dues stand at ₹84,000 crore.
Telecom industry AGR grew 1.7% in FY25's last quarter, but Vodafone Idea & BSNL saw declines. Overall minutes of usage increased. Subscriber base decreased by 0.11%.
Vi faces financial struggles and potential cash shortages beyond 2029 despite government relief efforts. AGR dues and funding challenges threaten its long-term sustainability. Relief package is being considered.
Telecom operators, including Airtel & Vodafone Idea, seek waivers on interest & penalties related to AGR dues. Supreme Court rulings impact financial stability. Government considers options.
Vodafone Idea seeks AGR dues waiver, faces financial strain. Government stake could rise to 49%. Supreme Court to hear appeal. Telecom competition concerns raised. Key issues: AGR, debt, and survival.
Airtel added 4.7M active users in January, while Jio remained flat. Vi lost 0.7M, highlighting its financial challenges. Airtel's M2M market leadership strengthened. Active users growth
India's leading telcos face a 5G capex downturn due to lacking use cases and delayed monetization. Airtel & Jio focus on revenue and FWA. Vi's 5G rollout hinges on debt raise. 5G investments normalisation impacts Ericsson.
The latest development comes only weeks after VI chief executive Akshaya Moondra had appealed to Department of Telecommunications (DoT) secretary Neeraj Mittal to urgently allow equity conversion of the telco’s upcoming adjusted gross revenue (AGR) and purchase dues relating to the 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 spectrum auctions as the cash-strapped company braces for a spike in regulatory payouts.
The government's decision to convert Rs 36,950 crore dues of Vodafone Idea (VIL) into equity is a "major" and "timely" display of support that will offer significant cash flow relief to the telco in the next three years and help it complete long-delayed bank debt raise, Citi said on Monday.
Telecom firms were not responsible for the delay in implementation of the regulations, including the DCA, the tribunal observed, adding: "Thus, it is unfair and arbitrary on the part of the respondent to impose financial disincentives on the appellants (telcos) for something which was beyond their control."
New Delhi: Leading telecom operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) continued their active subscriber losing streak in November, impacted by tariff hikes in July last year and churn in low-paying users, according to brokerages.
They had reached an agreement with Singapore-based Manipura Digital Infrastructure OPCO Pte Ltd for a combined value of Rs 12.1 crore in November 2023.
