TDSAT stays DoT demand from Airtel

Telecom tribunal TDSAT on Thursday granted partial stay on a Rs. 8,300-crore demand raised by the telecom department from Bharti Airtel for approving its merger with Tata Teleservices. The TDSAT has directed “the concerned authorities of the Union of India to take the merger of two companies and licence on record”, subject to stay on one-time spectrum charges (OTSC) demand of around Rs. 7,000 crore.

The tribunal asked Airtel to submit 50% payment of Rs. 1,287.97 crore demand raised by DoT as OTSC for Chennai circle licence extension from Nov. 30, 2014 to September 27, 2021.