BS EDIT: A Level Playing Field

By Business StandardPublished On Jan 5, 2026

A Crucial Lifeline for Vi

A five-year moratorium on AGR dues gives Vodafone Idea breathing room to raise funds, stabilise operations, and slow subscriber losses

Preventing a Duopoly

The relief aims to avoid a telecom duopoly, echoing government efforts in aviation to preserve competition and consumer choice

Equity Must Prevail

Preventing concentration should not undermine a level playing field. Support to one operator cannot come at the cost of fairness

Airtel’s Case for Relief

If Vi receives a moratorium, Bharti Airtel also merits similar consideration, despite stronger finances, to ensure equal treatment

AGR’s Long Legal Shadow

Disputes over adjusted gross revenue have plagued telecom for years, culminating in Supreme Court rulings shaping current relief

The Way Forward

With courts allowing flexibility, the government should extend relief uniformly, reinforcing stability, predictability, and equity in telecom