DoT to take no coercive action against telcos for missing AGR deadline

The Licensing Finance Policy Wing (LFPW) of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has communicated to the controller of communications accounts (CCA) in different circles that they should, till further orders, take no “coercive action” against telecom operators if they fail to comply with the Supreme Court order on repayment of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues.

After the Supreme Court’s AGR order, telcos were required to pay Rs 1.47 trillion by 24 January, a deadline set by the apex court.

The DoT move provides a major relief to telcos, as three leading players — Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea Ltd and the Tata group (which does not have any telecom operations now) have informed DoT through separate letters that they will comply with the Supreme Court order on AGR dues,