Telecom firms pay 10k-cr spectrum dues

New Delhi: Leading telcos Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have paid the government over Rs 10,000 crore in spectrum dues slated for April 10, but debt-ridden Reliance Communications has so far not deposited its outstanding amount of Rs 492 crore, a source said.

The payments are towards the latest installment in deferred spectrum liability for radiowaves bought in the past auctions. The source privy to the development said that the country's largest telecom operator Vodafone Idea has made payment of over Rs 6,277.1 crore to the Department of Telecom (DoT) towards its spectrum dues.

The company, which has put in motion a Rs 25,000-crore rights issue, had paid Rs 3,042.7 crore to the department in March as part of a previous installment. While Bharti Airtel has made payment of Rs 2,745.8 crore and Reliance Jio paid Rs 1,109.1 crore, the embattled Reliance Communications has not yet made payment of about Rs 492 crore as on the due date.

Typically, telecom companies are given a grace period of 10 days after the due date by the DoT to make the stipulated payment. Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio did not comment on mails sent to them.