The Department of Telecom (DoT) has decided to slap a Rs.650 crore penalty on Bharti Airtel for violating roaming norms in 13 circles between 2003-2005.
It is learnt that Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal has approved the penalty and a notice to the company will be issued this week.
The telecom service provider will be charged Rs.50 crore for each circle for routing national and international calls as local calls till 2005, although it was asked to stop this in 2003. The company's action had caused losses to the government exchequer and the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL).
Reacting to this, Bharti Airtel in a statement said: "We haven't received any communication from DoT in this regard and, therefore, would not be able to comment."
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app