Vodafone submits INR30bn to clear spectrum fees

Indian cellco Vodafone Idea has paid the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) spectrum dues totalling INR30.4 billion (USD418.6 million) relating to its purchase of frequencies auctioned in 2014, the Economic Times reports. According to the news outlet, which cites people familiar with the matter, the cellco is looking to avoid the government invoking its bank guarantees and to indicate to sector regulators that it is intent on honouring its financial commitments. At the same time, the operator has yet to pay dues related to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), for which the DoT is understood to have demanded INR530 billion from the company. The company has previously warned that it would be forced to close down if the government invoked its bank guarantees to recover AGR dues, as it does not have the funds to pay banks – a message that was subsequently echoed by the company’s creditors.