What happens if Vodafone Idea is unable to repay govt in four years?

The question of what happens if the telco is unable to repay the government in four years remains unanswered

On Tuesday, the announcement that the government had acquired 35.8 per cent in Vodafone-Idea Ltd (VIL) sparked off a debate on the consequences of the move for the country’s troubled

telecom business.

This development was the result of VIL accepting the one-time opportunity offered by the government to convert into equity the interest amount arising on the four-year deferment on the four-year moratorium on payments for spectrum and dues on adjusted gross revenue (AGR).

Some analysts and competing telcos said VIL has been given a reprieve that only postpones the inevitable private duopoly in mobile telephony. They predict that VIL will face