The Department of Telecommunications has asked the operators to pay the first installment of one-time spectrum fee by January 15, 2013, says news reports. Accordingly, the department is expected to receive a cumulative sum of Rs 80 billion from all operators.
As per DoT?s notice Bharti Airtel has to pay a one-time spectrum fee of Rs 52.01 billion. The operator has the option of submitting Rs 17.58 billion as the first installment of the total spectrum fee to be paid to DoT. Similarly, Vodafone has to pay a total of Rs 35.99 billion as the one one-time spectrum fee. Vodafone can also pay Rs 20.93 billion as the first installment. Similarly, the first installment for Idea Cellular is about Rs 8.1 billion ((including Rs 0.84 billion of Spice Communications), and that for Aircel is Rs 5.84 billion (including Rs 0.01billion of Dishnet). Also, Loop Mobile and Reliance Communications? have the option of paying the first installment of one-time licence fee of Rs 6.07 billion and Rs 0.63 billion, respectively.
The operators are currently evaluating legal options and may approach court against DoT?s directive to pay one-time licence fee.
Earlier, DoT had issued notices to various operators informing them about the imposition of a one-time licence fee both prospectively and retrospectively, from January 1, 2013. The government is likely to get Rs 42.51 billion as the one time spectrum fee on basis of retrospective charges and Rs 189.25 billion on prospective charges from the operators.
