SC asks RCom to deposit 50% of raised spectrum fee

The Supreme Court has directed Reliance Communications (RCom) and Reliance Telecom (RTel) to deposit 50 per cent of the increased spectrum usage charge demanded by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and to give a bank guarantee for the rest within two weeks.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia, also issued notice to DoT, directing it to file a reply over enhancing the spectrum usage charge. The apex court directed to tag the RCom and RTel’s appeal with other telecom operators, which have challenged DoT’s increasing the usage charges by three-eight per cent of adjusted gross revenue, depending on the quantum of spectrum held by an operator.

RCom and RTel are challenging the order of the sectoral tribunal, TDSAT, which had declined to stay DoT’s raise in the spectrum usage charge.

RCom said in a statement that it was already making payment of the increased spectrum charges under protest. “The Supreme Court has given an interim relief by asking only to pay 50 per cent of the increased charge and for the balance 50 per cent to submit the bank guarantee,” RCom said. This judgment is exactly the same as what has been passed in case of other operators like Airtel and Vodafone. “There is no additional liability on RCom,” the statement said.