DoT orders telecom firms to clear AGR dues without delay

NEW DELHI : The department of telecommunications (DoT) on Wednesday ordered Vodafone Idea Ltd, Bharti Airtel Ltd and other telecom operators to immediately clear all dues to the government arising from the Supreme Court’s October order.

“You are directed to provide the details of the payment made as required by above mentioned DoT letter dated 20.01.2020, and also pay balance amount without any further delay,” DoT said in a letter to telcos, a copy of which was reviewed by Mint. The 3 March letter does not specify how much more operators need to pay.

The latest DoT diktat comes even as the government discusses measures to alleviate the stress in the industry following a court order directing telecom companies to pay licence fee and spectrum usage dues totalling ₹1.4 trillion.