No big bang sops for telcos: IMG suggests longer payment band for spectrum

The inter-ministerial group (IMG), formed to address the financial stress of telecom sector, has submitted its report suggesting measures including extension of the timeframe for spectrum payments and change in interest rates. However, it has not recommended any cut in licence fee or spectrum usage charges (SUC).

The IMG has recommended extending the deferred payment schedule to 16 years and converting the PLR (prime lending rate) to the MCLR (marginal cost of funds-based lending rate) as the primary relief measures for financially stressed telcos, it is learnt.  

The recommendations, industry players say, will help in the long run as