Sops in the works to push telcos ahead

At present, telecom companies pay an average of 8% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) as licence fee

The financially stretched telecom industry could possibly get a breather with the government discussing relief options including a 1-2 per cent reduction in the licence fee. The government is also considering a cut in the interest rate paid by operators for making deferred payment for spectrum and a possible extension of the moratorium on payment for spectrum or extending the tenure of the payment beyond eight years. 

While this will help the sector, which is saddled with debts of over Rs 4,50,000 crore, two demands by the industry have not found favour — reduction in the amount operators pay to