Telecom Giants Airtel and Tata Teleservices Clear Over Rs 13,000 Crore in AGR Dues Ahead of Deadline

A significant financial activity has come to light in India’s telecom sector, with Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices together depositing over Rs 13,000 crore as their pending Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues to the Department of Telecommunications (DOT). The payment was made a day before the scheduled deadline, which shows that companies are taking regulatory compliance seriously, especially at a time when the four-year moratorium has ended.

According to sources, Bharti Airtel paid around Rs 9,200 crore on Monday, while Tata Teleservices paid Rs 4,170 crore. These payments were made at a time when companies had to restart the process of clearing their AGR dues after the moratorium ended. Although there was no official response from Airtel and Tata on this subject, it is clear that both companies have fulfilled their obligations on time.

AGR, i.e., Adjusted Gross Revenue, is the basis on which the government collects licence fees and other charges from telecom companies. In the year 2020, the Supreme Court of India in its landmark judgement upheld the government’s definition, which included non-telecom income in addition to telecom services in AGR. This decision resulted in a huge financial burden on the telecom companies, and they were directed to clear their dues within the stipulated time.

Bharti Airtel has sought recalculation and reassessment of its AGR dues from the government. The company says there could be a variety of errors in calculating its dues, including computational and arithmetical errors and the omission of some payments. Airtel also argued that if Vodafone Idea can get this type of relief, then a similar process should be followed for other companies. However, till now, Airtel has not received any relief in this regard.

The Union Telecom Minister has clearly said that the relief given to Vodafone Idea is in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court, and the government’s participation in it is also an important reason. Responding to Airtel’s demand, he said that if the company wants any kind of relief, then it will have to approach the Supreme Court for this. This makes it clear that the government is currently not in favour of providing direct relief to Airtel.

The government has announced special relief measures for Vodafone Idea, under which the company’s AGR dues have been frozen at Rs 87,695 crore till December 31, 2025. Along with this, the company has been allowed to pay its dues between FY32 and FY41, giving it time to recover from financial pressure. Additionally, the Department of Telecommunications has also started the process of recalculating AGR dues from FY07 to FY19, which has become possible after the Supreme Court’s 2025 judgement.

In January 2026, the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises said that Airtel has also written to the government seeking reassessment of its AGR dues. He emphasised that uniform rules and procedures should apply to all telecom companies. Mittal also explained that this process can identify payments that were not previously included or where double-billing may have occurred. At present, the company is giving priority to talks with the government rather than legal action.

The total AGR dues on Bharti Airtel are estimated at over Rs 40,000 crore. The company has already paid about Rs 18,000 crore, and now an additional payment of Rs 9,200 crore has been made. Even after this, the company owes more than Rs 30,000 crore. The outstanding amount continues to rise over time as interest, penalties, and interest on penalties accrue. Airtel intends to continue reassessing its dues going forward.

In September 2021, the government had given relief to the private sector for four years, under which the company was allowed to pay AGR and the spectrum-related portfolio. This phase ended in September 2025, after which it has now become mandatory for the company to pay for its product. As per Supreme Court directions, these dues are to be paid in instalments from FY26 to FY31.

This payment, made by Airtel and Tata Teleservices, not only shows their financial discipline but also shows that the telecom sector is still reeling from the impact of the AGR dispute. While Vodafone Idea has got relief and additional time, Airtel is demanding equal treatment. In the times to come, it will be important to see what stance the government and the Supreme Court take on this issue and what impact it has on the entire telecom industry.