Telcos seek relief in $13 billion AGR dues payment; officials disclose helping hand govt may offer

India is open to hearing wireless carriers’ suggestions to help ease payment of $13 billion in overdue fees, according to a government official with knowledge of the matter. Stripping out interest from the dues or paying the amount in tranches are some ideas that the government can discuss, the official said, asking not to be identified citing rules. An independent panel can examine such requests provided the companies commit to pay some amount immediately, the official said. The official spoke before the top court on Thursday rejected telecommunication operators’ plea to review an October verdict.

Anshu Prakash, secretary in India’s Department of Telecommunications, didn’t immediately respond to an email. The ruling may help boost government revenues at a time when tax collections have lagged targets amid an economic slowdown. But it deals a blow to debt-saddled companies struggling to recover from a brutal tariff war after Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. entered the market with free calls and cheap data in 2016. Bharti Airtel Ltd. and Vodafone Idea Ltd. posted record losses in the quarter through September.