TRAI unlikely to intervene in telecom tariffs, floor price for now; any call on issue to be taken later: Report

TRAI ’s views on the issue said that making any fresh move on floor prices or intervention does not make sense at this point, given that operators have already announced plans to hike tariffs in coming days, according to sources. New Delhi: With large telecom operators planning a rate hike in coming days, TRAI is unlikely to make an immediate intervention on tariff issues, including fixation of any floor price as of now, sources said. Sources aware of TRAI ’s views on the issue said that making any fresh move on floor prices or intervention does not make sense at this point, given that operators have already announced plans to hike tariffs in coming days. Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and other telecom operators have to pay Rs 1.47 lakh crore in outstanding statutory dues following a Supreme Court order on 24 October that upheld the government’s position on including revenue from non-core businesses in calculating the annual AGR of telecom companies, a share of which is paid as licence and spectrum fees to the exchequer.