Vodafone Idea demands 7-8 times hike in mobile data tariffs

Vodafone Idea has demanded to fix minimum tariffs for mobile data at Rs 35 per GB, around 7-8 times of the current price and for calls at 6 paise per minute along with monthly charges from April 1, 2020 to enable it to pay statutory dues and make its business sustainable.

The company is under pressure to clear adjusted gross revenue dues of more than Rs 50,000 crore to comply with Supreme Court order. The company has sought 18 years' time to clear the dues, including a three-year moratorium on payment of interest and penalty.

Post entry of Reliance Jio, the price war in the telecom industry was intensified, which in turn deteriorated the financial health of incumbent telecom players. The stock of Vodafone Idea has eroded almost 97 per cent of the investors’ wealth from the peak that it had witnessed in 2015.

Vodafone Idea is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership-firm.