10,000 cr spectrum paid by Vodafone, Idea, Airtel, Jio in April.
Leading
telcos Vodafone, Idea, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have paid the government
over Rs 10,000 crore in spectrum dues slated for April 10, but debt-ridden
Reliance Communications has so far not deposited its outstanding amount of Rs
492 crore, a source said. The payments are towards the latest installment in
deferred spectrum liability for radiowaves bought in the past auctions.
The source
privy to the development told PTI that the country's largest telecom operator
Vodafone Idea has made payment of over Rs 6,277.1 crore to the Department of
Telecom (DoT) towards its spectrum dues. The company, which has put in motion a
Rs 25,000-crore rights issue, had paid Rs 3,042.7 crore to the department in
March as part of a previous installment.
While Bharti
Airtel has made payment of Rs 2,745.8 crore and Reliance Jio paid Rs 1,109.1
crore, the embattled Reliance Communications has not yet made payment of about
Rs 492 crore as on the due date. Typically, telecom companies are given a grace
period of 10 days after the due date by the DoT to make the stipulated payment.
Bharti
Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio did not comment on mails sent to them.
Reliance Communications too declined to comment on the issue, but an industry
observer noted that RCom has repeatedly written to the DoT, seeking return of
excess bank guarantee encashment.
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