Vodafone Idea seeks ₹35 per GB as minimum floor price

Struggling to clear adjusted gross revenue dues of ₹53,000 crore to comply with a Supreme Court order, the loss-making telco has sought 18 years time to clear the dues.

Vodafone Idea has to pay revenue dues of ₹53,000 crore. (Pradeep Gaur/Mint)

Vodafone Idea has sought fixing minimum tariffs for mobile data at ₹35 per GB, which is about 7 time the current rate, and for calls at 6 paise per minute along with monthly charges from April 1, to help it pay statutory dues.

Struggling to clear adjusted gross revenue dues of ₹53,000 crore to comply with a Supreme Court order, the loss-making telco has sought 18 years time to clear the dues, including a three-year moratorium on payment of interest and penalty, according to official sources.

In a letter to the Department of Telecommunications, the company said it wants minimum price of data should be fixed at ₹35 per gigabyte and minimum monthly connection charge at ₹50 from April 1, 2020. Current mobile internet prices are in the range of ₹4-5 per GB.

According to the source, Vodafone Idea wants minimum price of outgoing calls should be fixed at 6 paise per minute.

The demand to raise call and internet rates from Vodafone Idea comes within three months of the company raising rates by up to 50 per cent.