Jio-RCom spectrum sharing deal not connected with AGR liability: Sources

Reliance Jio’s four-year-old telecom spectrum sharing deal with Reliance Communications (RCom) is not connected with the latter’s past statutory dues that pertain to the period prior to 2016 when Jio wasn’t even in operation, sources close to the company said.

A Supreme Court bench had on Friday sought to know why Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL) must not pay adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues of Reliance Communications since it has been using the latter’s spectrum since 2016.

A source, refusing to be quoted as the matter is sub-judice, said RJIL in April 2016 entered into a pact to share a part of the spectrum held by RCom and its unit Reliance Telecom Ltd (RTL).

The shared spectrum was limited to the 800 MHz band and was strictly in accordance with the Department of Telecom’s (DoT) spectrum sharing guidelines. RCom’s 2G, 3G and 4G spectrum in 1,800 MHz band are not being shared.