Telcos to opt for EMI moratorium; tariff to remain stable: COAI
5 years ago

Telcos to opt for EMI moratorium; tariff to remain stable: COAI

India TV News  

Debt-ridden telecom operators are likely to opt for three-month moratorium to avoid cash crunch during the lockdown, industry body COAI said on Saturday. The telecom operators have spoken in favour of raising mobile call and internet rates at the earliest, however, they will keep the prices stable during the lockdown period, COAI DG Rajan S Mathews told PTI. "There is debt of around Rs 1.6-2 lakh crore that telecom operators owe to Indian banks.They will opt three-month moratorium in loan repayment to help them maintain cash flow. Mobile subscribers get access to 4G data at a price as low as Rs 3.5 per GB but if the floor price is fixed as demanded by telecom operators, mobile internet prices will rise 5-10 times from the current level.

Telecom Price Emi Mathews Coai Operators Telecom Operators  rs  telcos  remain  price  coai  stable  operators  gb  rates  telecom  tariff  data  moratorium  emi  opt

History of this topic

Budget 2025-26: Priorities for pushing growth in telecom sector, local manufacturing
2 months ago

Budget 2025-26: Priorities for pushing growth in telecom sector, local manufacturing

New Indian Express  

The Indian telecom sector is a key driver of the Indian economy, contributing about 6 per cent to India’s GDP. With the Union Budget 2025-26 around the corner, the telecom sector is expecting the government to create a more conducive environment which will not only help the sector grow and expand, but also help the operators take faster investment decisions …

Telcos ask govt. to remove import duties on telecom equipment
2 months, 1 week ago

Telcos ask govt. to remove import duties on telecom equipment

The Hindu  

The Cellular Operators Association of India, which represents Bharti Airtel Ltd., Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. and Vodafone Idea Ltd., called on the Union government to scrap import duties on telecom equipment. “Until high-quality equipment is available domestically at competitive prices, we urge the government to reduce customs duties for 4G and 5G network products, as well as other related items, …

COAI Hails Cabinet Move to Ease Financial Burden on Telecoms
4 months ago

COAI Hails Cabinet Move to Ease Financial Burden on Telecoms

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: Industry body cellular operators association of India on Tuesday said that the Cabinet nod for bank guarantee waiver for past spectrum purchases is a "landmark decision" that would help reduce financial burden on telecom operators in the country. This landmark decision will significantly help reduce the financial burden on the telecom operators in the country," SP Kochhar, director …

’Telecom tariffs at unsustainable levels, industry needs price correction’
2 years, 4 months ago

’Telecom tariffs at unsustainable levels, industry needs price correction’

Live Mint  

Telecom operator Vodafone Idea has said telecom tariffs in India continue to remain at "unsustainable levels" and the industry needs "tariff correction" to support continued investments. And we believe that industry needs further tariff correction to support the continued investments going forward," Vodafone Idea CEO Akshaya Moondra said during the company's analyst call on Q2 FY23 earnings on Friday. Over …

Tariff hikes, moratorium on government dues to help telcos invest more aggressively in 5G tech: Report
3 years, 4 months ago

Tariff hikes, moratorium on government dues to help telcos invest more aggressively in 5G tech: Report

The Hindu  

The announced tariff hikes by the telcos could boost their operating profits by at least 40% and coupled with the moratorium on government dues, will help them invest more aggressively into 5G technology, says a report. Tariff hikes to lift the EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation, of telcos by 40% and along with the moratorium on …

Lifeline for telcos as government offers four-year moratorium on dues
3 years, 6 months ago

Lifeline for telcos as government offers four-year moratorium on dues

The Hindu  

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved several measures to extend a lifeline to the cash-strapped telecom sector, including a redefinition of the much-litigated concept of adjusted gross revenue to exclude non-telecom revenue and a four-year moratorium on players’ dues to the government. Mr. Read hinted at the need for further measures, seeking the ‘continued strong support of the Telecom Minister and …

Telcos seek help on ‘priority basis’
5 years, 1 month ago

Telcos seek help on ‘priority basis’

The Hindu  

Reeling under pressure to clear their adjusted gross revenue-related dues, telecom companies have sent an SOS to the government seeking measures on a ‘priority basis’ to facilitate reduction of financial stress in the industry. In a letter to various government departments, including the Prime Minister’s Office, industry body COAI highlighted that banks were currently unwilling to take any risk with …

AGR dues: Telecom industry body COAI rings alarm bells; asks govt to ease terms for payment, cut in licence fee
5 years, 1 month ago

AGR dues: Telecom industry body COAI rings alarm bells; asks govt to ease terms for payment, cut in licence fee

Firstpost  

Industry body COAI has sent out a distress signal to the government seeking easier terms for payment of statutory dues by telcos, including extension of loans at lower rates to cover AGR liabilities, as also fast implementation of floor prices, to rescue the troubled sector New Delhi: Industry body COAI has sent out a distress signal to the government seeking …

Deadline ends, but govt not to take action on telcos for delaying AGR dues
5 years, 2 months ago

Deadline ends, but govt not to take action on telcos for delaying AGR dues

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The government will not take coercive action against mobile service providers that failed to meet the court-directed 23 January deadline to pay dues, after Vodafone Idea Ltd and Bharti Airtel Ltd sought more time. Meanwhile, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, the mobile service provider least affected by the Supreme Court order that directed telcos to pay more than ₹1 …

Big boost for Airtel, Voda as Trai suggests no change in IUC rate till December 2020
5 years, 3 months ago

Big boost for Airtel, Voda as Trai suggests no change in IUC rate till December 2020

India TV News  

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Tuesday deferred by one year the scrapping of the charge paid by mobile phone users for calls made to rival networks and initiated talks to prescribe minimum or floor price for call and data, effectively ending free call regime. On Tuesday, Trai announced that telecom operators will continue to pay 6 paise per …

Part relief for telcos from 2-year spectrum moratorium but more measures needed, say analysts
5 years, 4 months ago

Part relief for telcos from 2-year spectrum moratorium but more measures needed, say analysts

Firstpost  

The government’s decision to grant two-year moratorium on spectrum payments to telecom companies will provide near-term cash flow relief, especially to Vodafone Idea, but the move by itself may not be enough to address leverage concerns of the troubled telcos, leading analysts said New Delhi: The government’s decision to grant two-year moratorium on spectrum payments to telecom companies will provide …

Government announces big relief to telcos: Here's what we know so far
5 years, 4 months ago

Government announces big relief to telcos: Here's what we know so far

India TV News  

The Union Cabinet has approved the recommendation of the Committee of Secretaries and has allowed telcos a two-year moratorium on spectrum-related dues which translates into Rs 42,000 crore financial support to the stressed sector. "In view of the current financial stress faced by major telecom service providers and in pursuant of the recommendations by Committee of Secretaries, it is decided …

Government gives Rs 42,000 crore relief to telcos, defers spectrum payments by 2 years
5 years, 4 months ago

Government gives Rs 42,000 crore relief to telcos, defers spectrum payments by 2 years

India TV News  

The government on Wednesday doled out a Rs 42,000 crore relief to debt-laden telecom companies after it agreed not to take any payments for spectrum they use for the next two years. The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved giving Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea Ltd and Reliance Jio an option to avail of a two-year moratorium on …

Telecom crisis deepens: Airtel, Vodafone Idea mobile service rate hikes from December to hit customers hard
5 years, 4 months ago

Telecom crisis deepens: Airtel, Vodafone Idea mobile service rate hikes from December to hit customers hard

Firstpost  

Bharti Airtel on Monday said it will start raising rates for services in December to make business viable The ongoing telecom crisis is set to hit the customers hard with two of the country’s largest telcos—Bharti Airtel and Vodafone—deciding to hike tariffs from 1 December after they posted historic losses on account of provisioning for the AGR pending dues, according …

Govt likely to refuse to waive $13 billion of telecom firms’ dues: Report
5 years, 4 months ago

Govt likely to refuse to waive $13 billion of telecom firms’ dues: Report

Live Mint  

India won’t back down from collecting $13 billion of past dues from debt-laden telecom carriers because the industry is not under stress, a government official with knowledge of the matter said, a move that could deepen Bharti Airtel Ltd. and Vodafone Idea Ltd.’s financial woes. The government’s stand about the health of the industry mirrors comments made by billionaire Mukesh …

Why Are Reliance Jio, Airtel & COAI Fighting Over Telecom Debt?
5 years, 4 months ago

Why Are Reliance Jio, Airtel & COAI Fighting Over Telecom Debt?

The Quint  

The DoT’s definition of AGR was first challenged in 2005 by the Cellular Operators Association of India. The Supreme Court’s ruling means that AGR now includes all revenues of the telcos, including rent, handset sales and profits from sales of assets and scrap. This has resulted in a pile-up of debt for Airtel and Vodafone Idea, forcing both the telcos …

SC ruling on AGR: Telecom industry body COAI ignores Jio's protest; seeks waiver of all past statutory dues for Airtel, Vodafone Idea
5 years, 4 months ago

SC ruling on AGR: Telecom industry body COAI ignores Jio's protest; seeks waiver of all past statutory dues for Airtel, Vodafone Idea

Firstpost  

Jio says COAI shot off the first representation to the government on 30 October without waiting for its comments. New Delhi: Ignoring its member Reliance Jio’s contentions, telecom industry association COAI has shot off an ‘addendum’ to its earlier demands and has now sought a complete waiver of statutory dues that its other members such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone …

Telecom consumer body seeks removal of interconnection usage charge on mobile calls
5 years, 4 months ago

Telecom consumer body seeks removal of interconnection usage charge on mobile calls

Firstpost  

A telecom consumers’ body has sought removal of 6 paise interconnection usage charge from 1 January next year as it deprives weaker sections of the society of new-age services and a better experience New Delhi: A telecom consumers’ body has sought removal of 6 paise interconnection usage charge from 1 January next year as it deprives weaker sections of the …

COAI ignores member Jio's protest; seeks waiver of all past statutory dues for Airtel, Voda-Idea
5 years, 4 months ago

COAI ignores member Jio's protest; seeks waiver of all past statutory dues for Airtel, Voda-Idea

India TV News  

Ignoring its member Reliance Jio's contentions, telecom industry association COAI has shot off an 'addendum' to its earlier demands and has now sought a complete waiver of statutory dues that its other members such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone-Idea owe to the government following the Supreme Court ruling. The Cellular Operators Association of India director-general Rajan S Mathews on October …

SC verdict on AGR: Hope govt takes 'balanced approach' to ensure telecom sector's long-term viability, says Bharti Airtel
5 years, 5 months ago

SC verdict on AGR: Hope govt takes 'balanced approach' to ensure telecom sector's long-term viability, says Bharti Airtel

Firstpost  

New Delhi: A day after a panel of secretaries was formed to suggest ways to mitigate financial stress in the telecom sector, Bharti Airtel on Wednesday said it is in the best interest of all parties to formulate a “constructive mechanism” to ensure that large levies, including AGR, can be addressed in a “fair manner”. Senior leadership of Airtel, in …

SC verdict on AGR: COAI warns of telecoms sector catastrophe; says Airtel, Vodafone Idea will face 'unprecedented crisis'
5 years, 5 months ago

SC verdict on AGR: COAI warns of telecoms sector catastrophe; says Airtel, Vodafone Idea will face 'unprecedented crisis'

Firstpost  

India’s telecoms sector and leading players Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea will face an “unprecedented crisis” if the government refuses to relax its demand for $13 billion in outstanding dues, a lobby group says New Delhi: India’s telecoms sector and leading players Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea will face an “unprecedented crisis” if the government refuses to relax its demand …

Budget 2019: Telcos unlikely to get relief, no levy rationalisation on cards
5 years, 9 months ago

Budget 2019: Telcos unlikely to get relief, no levy rationalisation on cards

India Today  

The Union budget is unlikely to propose any reduction in levies for telcos or allow them more time to clear their spectrum dues to the government, sources privy to the development said. The mobile operators association COAI has urged the new government to slash the overall levies to 4-5 per cent to ease the financial burden on the stressed telecom …

A year after Trai’s IUC cut, mobile connections get pricier for the poor
6 years, 4 months ago

A year after Trai’s IUC cut, mobile connections get pricier for the poor

Live Mint  

Bharti Airtel Ltd has decided to wean away subscribers who barely add anything to its kitty, according to a Mint report. Before the cut, even subscribers who barely paid telcos for their connections generated reasonable Arpu, just by the strength of IUCs received from other networks for their incoming calls. Assuming the extreme case of subscribers who only received incoming …

Govt approves relief package for debt-ridden telecom sector
7 years ago

Govt approves relief package for debt-ridden telecom sector

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday approved a relief package for the stressed telecom sector, easing spectrum-holding caps and extending the payment period for spectrum acquired in auctions to 16 years from 10 years. While the change in spectrum caps is expected to aid telecom sector consolidation, allowing operators to settle their dues to the government over a longer time …

COAI is planning to take legal action against TRAI over its ‘predatory pricing’ order
7 years, 1 month ago

COAI is planning to take legal action against TRAI over its ‘predatory pricing’ order

Firstpost  

The COAI said the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has created an environment of unequal footing amongst the telcos. Taking its grievances against the telecom watchdog’s recent order on telecom tariff amendment a step further, the Cellular Operators’ Association of India on Wednesday said it may take legal action and a decision on this should be taken by next week. …

Airtel, Vodafone cry foul over TRAI slashing call connect charges, Jio says consumers stand to benefit
7 years, 6 months ago

Airtel, Vodafone cry foul over TRAI slashing call connect charges, Jio says consumers stand to benefit

Firstpost  

Older telecom firms Bharti Airtel and Vodafone today cried foul over the regulator slashing call connect charges, saying it will worsen the financial health of telcos, a charge that newcomer Reliance Jio rubbished on grounds that customers must benefit from falling costs. Jio said that it is “appalling” that incumbent operators have made baseless allegations against the process for determination …

TRAI cutting IUC charges to 6 paise per min a win for Reliance Jio, but will mobile bills fall?
7 years, 6 months ago

TRAI cutting IUC charges to 6 paise per min a win for Reliance Jio, but will mobile bills fall?

India TV News  

Telecom regulator TRAI’s decision to cut call connect rates or the Interconnect Usage Charge by more than half effective October 1 is expected to benefit new entrant Reliance Jio. While the decision appears to be one that would benefit Reliance Jio, which had alleged that continuation of IUC beyond 2014 had resulted in older operators benefiting to the tune of …

If Trai abolishes IUC, regulatory risk for telcos will take a whole new meaning
7 years, 6 months ago

If Trai abolishes IUC, regulatory risk for telcos will take a whole new meaning

Live Mint  

Bharti Airtel Ltd and Idea Cellular Ltd’s shares have fallen around 7% from their highs in the past week. These reports have found fresh wings after the Delhi high court dismissed Vodafone India Ltd’s petition demanding that the regulator disclose its methodology for calculating IUC. Earlier reports had suggested Trai may cut IUC by half, which was expected to impact …

Vodafone urges India to reduce interest rates for spectrum payment
7 years, 7 months ago

Vodafone urges India to reduce interest rates for spectrum payment

Firstpost  

With the inter-ministerial group on telecom expected to submit its recommendations soon, Vodafone Group CEO Vittorio Colao has urged the Indian government to reduce interest rates on deferred spectrum payments and appealed that mobile termination charges be not reduced further. In a letter dated 22 August, a copy of which is available with IANS, Colao has written to Communications Minister …

COAI opposes mandatory testing of telecom products as it may act as a technical barrier to trade
7 years, 9 months ago

COAI opposes mandatory testing of telecom products as it may act as a technical barrier to trade

Firstpost  

The proposal will act as a “direct deterrent” to the Make in India initiative of the government, the association claimed. Cellular operators body COAI has opposed a proposal for mandatory testing of telecom products, saying the move will “cripple” the debt-ridden sector and increase cost of telecom services hurting end-consumers. In a letter to the Telecommunication Engineering Centre, which is …

Will Voda's move lead to a new wave of tariff hikes?
12 years, 10 months ago

Will Voda's move lead to a new wave of tariff hikes?

Firstpost  

The uncertainty over who wins a licence to continue operations will likely spark a shift among subscribers affected by licence cancellations to bigger players like Vodafone and Bharti Airtel. In a move that might possibly herald the end of the era of ultra-cheap mobile tariffs for Indians, Vodafone, India’s second largest telecom 0perator, hiked prices by20 percent, or to 1.2 …

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