Month: August 2026
Supreme Court Dismisses Review Petition Challenging GST Treatment of Telecom Towers as Movable Property
Summary: The Supreme Court has dismissed the CGST department’s review petition, reaffirming that telecom towers qualify as movable property and are eligible for Input Tax Credit (ITC) under GST. The decision supports telecom companies such as Bharti Airtel and Indus Towers, confirming that towers fall under plant and machinery and are not excluded by Section […]
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Reliance Jio Appears to Have Confirmed an Imminent Tariff Increase
Summary: Reliance Jio’s Rs 300 Prime membership offers customers protection from future tariff increases until September 5, 2027, suggesting that a price hike could be introduced after September 5, 2026, although Jio has not officially confirmed one. With its Q1 FY27 ARPU at Rs 215.6, Jio may need a 15–20% tariff increase to drive stronger […]
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Vodafone Idea Introduces Rs 7.50-Per-Day Plan With Unlimited Calls and 5GB Data Every 30 Days
Summary: Vodafone Idea’s Rs 675 prepaid plan, available in Rajasthan, offers 90 days of validity, unlimited voice calls and 5GB of data every 30 days at an effective cost of Rs 7.50 per day. The recharge is primarily suited to voice-focused users who rely on Wi-Fi and need limited mobile data. After the 5GB allowance […]
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NITI Aayog Calls for Immediate Policy Measures to Strengthen India’s Telecom and Network Equipment Sector
Summary: NITI Aayog has called for urgent policy measures to strengthen India’s telecom equipment industry by increasing domestic manufacturing, reducing import dependence and boosting exports. The think tank highlighted the need to improve component production, R&D, technology access and manufacturing capacity as demand for 5G and high-speed connectivity grows. It also sees significant export potential […]
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Telecom Operators Owe Government Rs 1.4 Lakh Crore in AGR Dues Through FY26
Summary: Telecom operators owed the government more than Rs 1.4 lakh crore in AGR dues as of March 31, 2026, Parliament was informed. Vodafone Idea had the highest outstanding amount at Rs 66,149 crore, followed by Bharti Airtel, Tata Group and MTNL, while BSNL had no dues. The government noted that the figures may change […]
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BSNL Plans Rs 77,000 Crore Investment, Targets 2 Lakh More 4G Sites
Summary: BSNL has proposed a Rs 77,000 crore investment over the next five years to deploy an additional 2 lakh 4G sites and expand high-speed coverage across India, while also planning for a future 5G rollout. The telecom operator has already installed nearly 1 lakh 4G sites, with its FY2026-27 capital allocation rising to Rs […]
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Vi Announces Financial Performance for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2026
Summary: Vodafone Idea (Vi) reported a stronger Q1 FY27 performance, with revenue rising 6% year-on-year to Rs 116.89 billion and EBITDA increasing to Rs 50.34 billion, while its loss narrowed to Rs 37.54 billion. The company’s customer base grew to 193.1 million, marking its first quarter of positive net subscriber additions since the merger, while […]
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India Takes Steps to Regulate Consumer-Focused 5G Network Slicing
Summary: India is moving toward tighter oversight of commercial 5G network slicing, with TRAI proposing safeguards to ensure premium connectivity services do not affect ordinary users. Telecom operators would need sufficient network capacity before launching network slices and may have to exclude persistently congested cells if upgrades fail to resolve capacity issues. The proposal follows […]
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Parliamentary Committee Highlights BharatNet Shortcomings, Calls for State-Level Audit of Rural Broadband
Summary: A parliamentary committee has flagged major gaps in the implementation and utilisation of BharatNet, India’s rural broadband programme, and called for a state-wise and model-wise performance audit to identify bottlenecks. As of February 2026, only 78,899 of nearly 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats had operational Points of Presence, despite 7.19 lakh km of fibre being […]
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Government paves the way for private satellite communication companies through new telecom regulations
Summary: The Government of India has reaffirmed that private satellite communication companies can operate under a regulated framework, with OneWeb India Communications, Jio Satellite Communications, and Starlink Satellite Communications among those authorised to provide commercial satellite services. The new Telecommunications (Authorisation for Provision of Principal Telecommunication Services) Rules, 2026 replace the earlier licensing model with […]
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