Telecom firms owe govt Rs19,300 cr, says minister

Telecom operators owe over Rs19,300 crore to the government as spectrum charges and licence fee, Parliament was informed today.

The maximum outstanding dues are against state-run Bharat Sanachar Nigam Ltd, which owes Rs5,373.28 crore in dues.

Communications and information technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that a total of Rs19,351.07 crore is due to the government from telecom operators, of which Rs14,895.84 crore is licence fee and Rs4,455.13 crore spectrum charges. The outstanding amount is inclusive of interest.

The minister said revenue of Rs16,635.87 crore has been received by the government for 2014-15 (up to January 2015) from telecom companies. The revenue included licence fee, universal access levy, spectrum usage charges and other receipts.

The government garnered revenue of Rs40,113.81 crore in 2013-14, which included Rs25,150.87 crore from spectrum auctions.

The revenue figures for 2012-13 stood at Rs19,139.58 crore and Rs17,397.83 crore for 2011-12.

Prasad said annual assessment of licence fee and spectrum usage charges is a continuous process and in case of default and delayed payments, penalties are levied as per the provisions of the licence agreements including invocation of bank guarantees.