If the government wants to work on the survival of the Vodafone Idea it will have to make substantial payments, as well as forego revenues in FY’23, because it will have to extend the same incentives to the entire telecom sector.
According to estimates, the industry has to spend around Rs 21,000-Rs 25,000 crores for spectrum which it bought on a deferred payment basis. Vodafone Idea has asked for a moratorium for another year (FY23). If granted, the government will have foregone the installment payout for the third year in a row as it has already provided a moratorium for two years, giving telcos Rs 42,000 crore worth of relief. However, the payouts will be adjusted with interest for the remaining years of the staggered payment (16 years) scheme and this remains unchanged.
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