How govt has fared on its promise to connect the unconnected, underserved

Whatever be the outcome of the AGR verdict on telcos, the government must deliver on its promise towards the other India

The more than 150-page Supreme Court verdict on what constitutes adjusted gross revenue (AGR) disrupting the telecom industry hinges on the link between the right of the government over all communication services, why telcos must share their revenue with the Centre and the National Telecom Policy objective of providing connectivity to the rural, far, hilly and remote corners of the country. While the right of the government over communication services and its claim over companies’ revenues as part of a contract cannot be faulted, the promise to connect the unconnected and the under-served is far from delivered. And that’s a