Telecom industry urges govt to facilitate funding at lower interest rates

Telecom industry on Monday sought lower lending rates and easier financing to help reduce capital costs.

Representatives from industry met Telecom Ministry officials to communicate their suggestions to help the debt-ridden sector. Department of Telecommunications will convey these suggestions to the Finance Ministry for consideration.

According to a senior government official, most demands made were on similar lines as before, including reduction in levies. The official added that one of the recommendations was related to input line credit.

The industry has also sought facilitation of funding at lower interest rates to telecom companies, removal of GST on licence fee, spectrum usage charges