Telecom ministry clears Idea-Vodafone merger with conditions: Govt sources

The telecom ministry (DoT) on Monday approved the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular that will create the country's largest mobile services operator, an official source said.

"DoT has cleared the Vodafone-Idea merger today. They will have to meet conditions for final approval,” the source told PTI.

The department has asked Idea Cellular to pay Rs 39.26 billion in cash for Vodafone spectrum and furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 33.42 billion, the source further said.

The combined operations of Idea and Vodafone will create the country's largest telecom operator worth over USD 23 billion (or over Rs 1.5 trillion), with a