Given that Vodafone Idea needs to fork out about half the telecom industry’s annual deferred spectrum payments between now and 2031, it’s not surprising that chairman KM Birla is calling on the government for some relief.
Nearly half or Rs 10,579 crore of the Rs 21,218 crore to be paid out in 2018-19 is Vodafone Idea’s share. In comparison, Bharti Airtel’s annual outgo is smaller at Rs 5,573 crore.