TRAI moves may help lift fortunes of Vodafone Idea, Airtel, say analysts

Kolkata: A combination of measures from the telecom regulator such as the year-long deferment of zero-interconnect usage charges (IUC) regime and a potential floor price for voice and data services are veritable lifelines that could potentially improve financial viability and brighten business continuity prospects of India’s older carriers, Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, analysts said.

Vodafone Idea and Airtel are worst hit by a recent Supreme Court verdict, which backed the government’s wider definition of adjusted gross revenue (AGR), and face statutory dues of Rs 53,039 crore and Rs 35,586 crore respectively, which they need to pay up in just over a month from now.