Telco loan plan

Debt-ridden telecom operators are likely to opt for a three-month moratorium to avoid a cash crunch during the lockdown, industry body COAI said on Saturday.

The telecom operators have spoken in favour of raising mobile call and internet rates at the earliest even as they will keep the prices stable during the lockdown period, COAI director-general Rajan S Mathews said.

“There is a debt of around Rs 1.6-2 lakh crore that telecom operators owe to Indian banks. They will opt for the three-month moratorium in loan repayment to help them maintain cash flow. It is a relief for them,” Mathews said.