New Delhi, 19 May (H.S.): The Supreme Court has dismissed petitions from telecom operators Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Tata Teleservices, which sought waivers on interest and penalties related to their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, labeling the petitions as “misconceived.” This decision follows the government’s rejection of Vodafone Idea’s plea for further relief on its AGR dues. According to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), a letter dated April 29 stated that due to the Supreme Court’s 2020 verdict, which set a 10-year timeline for telecom companies to settle dues, additional concessions cannot be granted.

Vodafone Idea is facing liabilities exceeding Rs 45,000 crore, while Bharti Airtel has requested a waiver of Rs 34,745 crore. Notably, Vodafone Idea has received partial support from the government, which converted Rs 36,950 crore of its dues into equity, leading to a 49% stake in the company. Despite these efforts, Vodafone Idea continues to grapple with significant financial challenges stemming from a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that expanded the definition of AGR.

Subsequent attempts by Vodafone Idea to contest this verdict, including a curative petition filed in July 2024, were denied. Amidst these financial struggles, Vodafone Idea recently launched its high-speed 5G services in Delhi NCR and plans to expand this rollout to all 17 priority circles by August.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar