In a major blow to telecom service providers, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed all petitions seeking permission to allow the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to fix alleged errors in its calculations of Aggregate Gross Revenue (AGR) dues. The decision is a particularly major blow for Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) which faces over Rs 20,000 crore in cumulative cash outgo within a year, but had just Rs 350 crore in cash and cash equivalents as of the end of March 31, 2021.

According to the SC's earlier directions, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have to pay over Rs 43,000 crore and Rs 58,000 crore respectively towards AGR dues and penalties, with the payments to be made in annual instalments over a 10-year period. Telcos have to make their annual payments for this year by March 31, 2022. 

In a major blow to telecom service providers, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed all petitions seeking permission to allow the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to fix alleged errors in its calculations of Aggregate Gross Revenue (AGR) dues. The decision is a particularly major blow for Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) which faces over Rs 20,000 crore in cumulative cash outgo within a year, but had just Rs 350 crore in cash and cash equivalents as of the end of March 31, 2021.

According to the SC's earlier directions, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have to pay over Rs 43,000 crore and Rs 58,000 crore respectively towards AGR dues and penalties, with the payments to be made in annual instalments over a 10-year period. Telcos have to make their annual payments for this year by March 31, 2022.