According to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Bharti airtel has paid Rs 10.97 billion to the government as licence fee and spectrum usage charge for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. This is the highest amount paid by any operator during the quarter. The company paid Rs 7.08 billion as licence fee and Rs 3.88 billion as spectrum charge for the quarter.
Bharti was followed by Vodafone Essar, which has paid a combined amount of Rs 7.19 billion for the quarter. Etisalat, Unitech Wireless, Loop Telecom, S Tel and Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited, who obtained spectrum in 2008, paid Rs 0.61 billion as spectrum charge and licence fee to the government.
Also, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) have paid a total of Rs 4.62 billion as spectrum charges and licence fees.
Other private operators included Tata Teleservices Limited (Rs 2.92 billion), Idea Cellular (Rs 4.63 billion) and Reliance Communications (Rs 2.62 billion).
