DoT presses Airtel, Vodafone Idea for $1.1B in additional dues

Details: Manny Pham; Category: Regulation; 12 September 2025; 8258 views

Vodafone Idea is pushing back against a fresh demand from India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), which is seeking INR94.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) in outstanding adjusted gross revenue (AGR) charges from both Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel.

The operator has filed a petition with the Supreme Court, arguing that the DoT’s revised calculations contradict the 2019 judgement on AGR liabilities. Vodafone Idea maintains that much of the debt was already addressed under the ruling six years ago, and that the court explicitly prohibited any reassessment of the original decision.

According to Vodafone Idea, the new claim includes INR2.7 billion linked to post-merger operations of Vodafone Idea and Idea Group, and a further INR5.7 billion relating to Vodafone Group liabilities prior to the 2018 merger with Idea Cellular. The company contends that the demand stretches beyond the scope of the original verdict and exacerbates its precarious financial position.

Despite this challenge, the DoT remains determined to secure payment. The Economic Times reported that the department is standing firm on recovering the additional sum, even as Vodafone Idea faces mounting pressure under a debt load of almost INR840 billion owed to the DoT.

The Indian government, which is now the operator’s largest shareholder, floated support measures in June aimed at keeping Vodafone Idea solvent.