Blow to telecom service providers as SC rejects plea over AGR definition

SC says all revenues except termination fee and roaming charges will form part of AGR

Ending a legal tussle that lasted for more than a decade between the Union government and telecom service providers, the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday dismissed a plea moved by firms challenging the definition of adjusted gross revenue (AGR). The verdict allows the government to recover Rs 92,000 crore of AGR from the already financially stressed telecom industry that includes many operators who’ve already gone out of business or are under insolvency proceedings.

The payout by telcos could rise to an estimated Rs 1.33 trillion once spectrum usage charges (SUC) linked to AGR are taken into account.

Incumbent telcos Bharti