Group of Secretaries to examine financial challenges being faced by telecom sector

Secretaries (CoS) under Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba will examine, and suggest measures to mitigate, the financial stress faced by the telecom sector, keeping in view the larger public interest and improving telecom services for subscribers.

The CoS will look into the demand of telecom service providers for deferment of spectrum auction payment due for the years 2020-21 and 2021-22, in order to ease cash flows in the industry, an official note seen by BusinessLine read.

Also on the agenda will be a re-look at the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) charge, which is currently at 5 per cent, while the TRAI in its earlier recommendations had suggested the reduction of this charge to 3 per cent. TSPs’ request for reduction of spectrum usage charges (SUC) may also be examined, it said.