Telecom sector companies may soon get a big relief from the central government. The government is now preparing to waive 100% penalty and 50% interest on the outstanding Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of telecom companies. If this decision comes from the central government, then it will be seen as a big relief for telecom companies. In a decision of the Supreme Court in 2019, penalty and interest were imposed on these telecom companies regarding AGR dues.

This information has been given in many media reports quoting sources. The Economic Times has said in its report that this can provide relief of ₹ 1 lakh crore to telecom companies. Half of this is of Vodafone Idea (Vi). These telecom companies have to pay AGR dues to the government from the financial year 2026.

How much relief is possible to which company? These reports say that if the central government announces this big relief, then Vi's AGR dues will be reduced by about ₹ 52,000 crore. The company is already under the burden of heavy debt. At the same time, Bharti Airtel will get relief of about ₹ 38,000 crore. For Tata Teleservices, this relief will be around ₹ 14,000 crore. However, Tata Tele no longer does business in retail mobility services. This company now works only in enterprise mobility services. Citing sources, this report says that at present this proposal is being considered at the high level including the Ministry of Finance. It also includes the Department of Telecom and the Cabinet Secretariat. The telecom sector, which is facing heavy debt burden, may get the first biggest relief package after September 2021. It can possibly be announced in the budget to be presented on 1 February 2025. Let us tell you that only last month, the government had abolished the requirement of depositing bank guarantee for spectrum dues. Vodafone Idea got the biggest relief from this decision. Vodafone no longer needs to deposit a bank guarantee of Rs 24,800 crore.