Accordingly, telecom service providers in India are currently focused on optimising 4G networks and making them 5G ready, for which they have sufficient spectrum. "In the interim, a diligent implementation of NDCP 2018 ( National Digital Communications Policy ) that rightly treats telecom as a critical enabler for a digital economy will help the financially stressed telecom sector strengthen. Over the past few years, India's telecom market had become cut-throat where nearly a dozen players jostled for market share, pummelling the call rates to amongst the lowest in the world. Billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla, head of Vodafone Idea Ltd, had recently sent an SOS to the government for deferring statutory payments in a sector that is not generating enough cash to even service loans. The Vodafone Idea chief had also expressed concern over Rs 30,000 crore that is locked up on account of GST payment under 'reverse charge mechanism'.

Source: Economic Times December 16, 2018 09:11 UTC