Govt approves Rs 3,050-cr fine on Airtel, Voda Idea; telcos may move court

Airtel and Vodafone Idea had recently concluded their rights issue to pare debt. They raised Rs 25,000 crore each from their respective offers

The Digital Communications Commission (DCC) on Wednesday approved the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to levy a total penalty of Rs 3,050 crore on Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea for refusing to provide points of interconnection to Reliance Jio. The apex decision-making body of the telecom sector will now send its verdict to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the final decision. The affected telcos are likely to move court once the DoT formalises the decision.  

 “After detailed discussions, it was decided that the DCC will accept the recommendations of Trai to levy penalty and recommend