Telecom receipts to rise, dim chances of AGR relief to Airtel

The government pegged receipts from communications services at ₹1.4 trillion for FY26

- Jatin Grover

The telecom department’s aim to raise ₹60,000 crore by March to meet its revised ₹1.4-trillion receipt aim for FY26 could weigh on chances of relief for Bharti Airtel on its upcoming adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, telecom analysts say.

In the revised estimates for this fiscal, detailed in the budget for FY27 on Sunday, the government pegged receipts from communications services at ₹1.4 trillion for FY26, up 71% from the earlier projections of ₹82,443 crore.

Telecom analysts question where this extra ₹60,000 crore is going to come from for the communications ministry, as it has already shown an earning of about ₹80,000 crore end December from sources such as licence fee, spectrum use and spectrum auction money from private operators.

“The additional receipts would come from BSNL's spectrum payment, AGR dues expected from Bharti Airtel and the quarterly licence fee receipts for FY26,” an official said on the condition of anonymity. For FY27, the telecom receipts from communications services are pegged at ₹1.17 trillion on expectation of receipts from potential spectrum auctions and statutory dues.