Page 59 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Vodafone Idea Dealt New Blow as DoT Drops AGR Dues Waiver Plan

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has reportedly main objection seems to be that Bharti Airtel – which would have
dropped a plan to waive adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues of seen INR38 billion in AGR dues erased under the plan – is doing
telcos, which is especially bad news for financially struggling telco well enough financially that it has the ability to pay the dues. Tata
Vodafone Idea. According to various media reports, the waiver was Teleservices – which has dropped consumer mobile services to
intended as a relief effort in the wake of a Supreme Court decision focus on enterprise mobility – would have saved INR14 billion.
in October 2019 that ordered telcos to pay a combined INR1.47 The waiver doesn't cover Reliance Jio because it doesn't owe any
trillion (US$17 billion) in legacy AGR dues to the government. In legacy AGR dues. The decision to scrap the waiver is potentially
September 2021, the government approved a moratorium on AGR bad news for Vodafone Idea, which held a cash position of
dues payments that expires in March-April 2026. The DoT’s waiver INR120.9 billion at the end of 2024 and has to pay INR291 billion
plan, which surfaced in January this year, would have waived 50% in statutory dues in March 2026 when the moratorium expires, the
of interest and all penalties and interest on penalties that make up report said. Last September, the Supreme Court rejected Vodafone
almost 75% of the INR1.47 trillion figure. The waiver would have Idea's plea to recalculate the AGR dues amount, which could have
saved telcos over INR1 billion, more than half of which would have been reduced by 46%. While the government recognizes the need
accrued to Vodafone Idea. However, according to a report in the to financial relief for Vodafone Idea, it feels the waiver plan isn’t an
Economic Times citing “a person aware of the details", officials appropriate solution, the report added. The source told ET that the
at higher levels of the government have objected to the waiver DoT is working on an alternate plan to provide financial relief for
because they think it’s wrong to provide financial relief to private Vodafone Idea that could include taking an additional equity stake
companies – at least some of which are running a profit – on an in the telco. It currently holds a 22.56% stake.
issue that was decided by the highest court in the country. The

Canada and ITU Champion Young Women in Tech

The Government of Canada will bring young women from
developing countries, least developed countries, landlocked
developing countries and small island development states, as well
as young indigenous women and young women with disabilities,
to key upcoming global technology conferences and activities
organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Nine young women between 18 and 25 years old, who are working
to promote sustainable digital development and transformation,
will receive support to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend key
ITU events between 7 and 11 July.
• The WSIS+20 High-Level Event will consider the way forward for
global digital cooperation two decades after the historic 2003
and 2005 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
• The AI for Good Global Summit will highlight how artificial intelli-
gence (AI) solutions to accelerate sustainable development.
• ITU160 Anniversary activities.
ITU, founded in 1865 for telegraph coordination, continues facilitat-
ing global communications with ever-evolving technologies. remaining underrepresented even in relatively new fields like AI.
ITU160 Gender Champions Canada, in partnership with ITU, is ITU – in its modern form as a United Nations specialized agency
providing this opportunity through the “ITU160 Gender Champions” – has adopted gender equality and mainstreaming resolutions
initiative, highlighting challenges and opportunities for women and in all sectors of its work, advocating to close the gender digital
girls in tech as part of ITU’s 160th anniversary.The nine selected divide. This year’s ITU commemorations coincide with the 30th
ITU160 Gender Champions are invited to engage in Geneva with anniversary of the1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,
tech leaders and experts, to amplify their own digital development the groundbreaking agreement outlining principles to ensure
work, and to co-design and facilitate a workshop on gender equality equality for men and women and to close gender divides.
in digital transformation. Despite gradual progress, the tech
industry remains male dominated all over the world, with women

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