The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a show-cause-cum-demand notice of around Rs 78.27 billion to Tata Communications over adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues. The demand, which covers the period from 2005-06 to 2023-24, is outlined in a DoT note. Tata Communications mentioned that these notices have been revised over time. The total includes Rs 2.76 billion on account of disallowed deductions claimed on a payment basis for 2010-11 under its internet service provider (ISP) licence and for 2006-07 and 2009-10 under its national long distance (NLD) licence.
Meanwhile, the company currently has pending appeals related to its international long distance (ILD), NLD, and ISP licences before the supreme court and Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). Tata Communications clarified that its appeals are not part of the Supreme Court’s October 24, 2019 judgement on AGR dues under the Unified Access Services License (UASL) regime.
Earlier government calculations had pegged the total AGR liability of telecom operators at approximately Rs 1.65 trillion up to 2018-19. This included Rs 312.80 billion for Bharti Airtel, Rs 592.36 billion for Vodafone Idea Limited, Rs 6.31 billion for Reliance Jio, Rs 162.24 billion for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), and Rs 50.09 billion for Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL). Tata Communications was not included in those calculations.
