Bharti Airtel Approaches Supreme Court Seeking AGR Relief: Report

Bharti Airtel Approaches Supreme Court Seeking AGR Relief: Report
Bharti Airtel and Bharti Hexacom approached the Supreme Court on Saturday seeking relief in the ongoing Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues case, joining Vodafone Idea in urging judicial intervention to prevent further financial stress in the telecom sector. In their joint petition, the Bharti companies informed that the AGR liabilities severely constrain their ability to make critical investments in telecom infrastructure.

  • Make Telecom Talk My Trusted Source
  • Source of Google
  • Source of Google

Also Read: Airtel Seeks Urgent AGR Dues-to-Equity Conversion Amid Mounting Promoter Debt

AGR Dues Threaten Telecom Investment Plans

“The AGR dues gravely impacted the ability of the two Bharti companies to meet the much-needed aggressive network roll out requirements for remaining competitive in the telecom sector and for sustaining their operations and serving public interest. Therefore, in the absence of grant of waiver, as prayed hereunder, on a non-discriminatory basis to all license holders/ISPs impacted by the AGR judgment, would undoubtedly jeopardise the survivability of the Bharti Companies and the entire telecom sector at large,” the petition stated, according to an ET report.

Over the years, Airtel has made significant investments in developing India’s telecom sector. To remain competitive and continue serving the public interest by expanding critical telecom infrastructure, the petitioner companies need to undertake substantial investments. These include meeting rural rollout obligations, expanding fibre networks and spectrum, developing data centres, submarine cables and landing stations, and adopting advanced technologies such as 5G Standalone Architecture (SA) and 6G, according to the report.

To DoT: Vodafone Idea Says It Can’t Operate Beyond FY 2025–26 as Banks Refuse Loans