A bailout on the cards: DoT takes a call to cut levies as telcos bleed

The revised SUC and other levies will be implemented immediately after being notified in the new telecom policy

The government is looking at reducing the spectrum usage charges (SUC) and other levies in a move to help the stressed telecom sector emerge stronger.
 

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has indicated that as part of the national telecom policy, which is likely to be released next month,  various levies and charges including SUC would be reviewed in line with the input tax credit available.

Telecom operators pay 8 per cent of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) as licence fee and SUC is pegged in the range of 3 to 6 per cent depending on the type of airwaves they