2G verdict out: How SC, CAG moves triggered telecom consolidation, debt

By giving spectrum on a 'first-come-first-served' basis, minister A Raja had doubled the number of players from seven to 14, and ensured a cut-throat price war that would lead to a 50% tariff decline

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in New Delhi will on Thursday pronounce its verdict in the Rs 1.76-lakh-crore 2G spectrum allocation scam of 2008. While a resolution to the long-running case seems close in sight, it would be pertinent to see how the infamous case and key moves in it by the court and the national auditor changed the country's telecom landscape significantly.

Today, when you talk about the telecom sector, consolidation and debt burden are some of the buzzwords that come to your mind. Many, in the same breath, cite Reliance Jio’s entry as a major