DoT asks Voda Idea to pay Rs 6,091-crore bank guarantee or Rs 5,493 crore cash

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has asked debt-ridden telecom relation Vodafone Idea to either deposit a slope warrant of Rs 6,090.7 crore oregon Rs 5,493.2 crore successful currency for shortfall of aggregate outgo made for spectrum the institution acquired successful 2015, the institution said.

The company, however, is successful treatment with the DoT to wage the dues done equity.

"The aggregate outgo made by the institution for each of spectrum auctions are greater than the pro-rated usage of spectrum different than for the 2015 auction, wherever determination is one-time partial shortfall and DoT has requested either to supply slope warrant of Rs 60,907 cardinal (Rs 6,090.7 crore) for 1 twelvemonth oregon marque a currency outgo of Rs 54,932 cardinal (Rs 5,493.2 crore) by March 10, 2025," Vodafone Idea Non-Executive Director Himanshu Kapania said successful a note.

As connected December 2024, the outstanding indebtedness from banks (including involvement accrued but not due) of the radical is Rs 2,345.1 crore and deferred outgo work towards spectrum payable implicit the years till FY 2044 and AGR (including involvement accrued but not due) payable implicit the years till FY 2031 of the radical aggregates to implicit Rs 2.27 lakh crore.

"The institution continues to beryllium successful discussions with DoT and has requested to get astatine a solution for this request arsenic envisaged successful the telecom reforms bundle 2021," Kapania said.

Vodafone Idea (VIL) has obligations to wide Rs 1,200 crore indebtedness from banks and Rs 2,188.6 crore towards spectrum dues by December 31, 2025.

The installments related to spectrum and adjusted gross gross (AGR) instalment falling owed during FY26 and shortfall related to the 2015 spectrum auction aggregate to Rs 32,723.5 crore.

Kapania said successful lawsuit determination is immoderate shortfall successful outgo to the authorities past the institution expects it to beryllium converted into equity.

The authorities is the largest azygous shareholder successful Vodafone Idea with 23.15 per cent involvement arsenic of December 31, 2024.

VIL Promoters -- Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group -- clasp 14.76 per cent and 22.56 per cent involvement successful the company, respectively.

Vodafone Idea connected Tuesday reported narrowing of losses to Rs 6,609.3 crore during the December quarter, arsenic the debt-laden telco clinched a sequential emergence successful ARPU.

The gross from operations stood astatine Rs 11,117.3 crore during the quarter, implicit 4 per cent higher than the corresponding play past year.