Airtel Chairman Hopeful About Relief from Government and Trai to Ease Financial Pressure on Telco

The Bharti Airtel Chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal led telecom operator met with commerce and industry minister, Piyush Goyal to discuss the future pathway of the telecom industry and the relief that the telecom companies might be getting from the government in the coming days. As per a new ET report on the matter, Sunil Bharti Mittal said that Bharti Airtel would be fine if the telecom regulator brings floor pricing in the industry for voice tariffs as well as data. The chairman also remarked that he has “legal hope” for relief on the Rs 35,500 crore dues that the telecom operator needs to pay in over a month. It is worth noting that the AGR dues which have come on the shoulders of the telecom operator amount to Rs 35,500 crore on account of penalties, interests, spectrum usage charges and license fees.

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Sunil Bharti Mittal Optimistic About Relief

Sunil Bharti Mittal said, “Trai finally floated a consultation paper on tariffs, that was our request, and we are glad that they have heeded to the request of the industry.” His remarks came only a day later after Trai floated the consultation paper on the matter of floor pricing for the industry. Mittal was also questioned as to whether or not it would be hard to regulate voice tariffs, to which he replied that “They need to bring some sanity and orderliness in the telecom industry, so we are happy with whatever they decide.” The private telecom operators in India including Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel want the floor pricing for the data tariffs, but do not want voice to be regulated in anyway.