Wrong call by DoT

The conditions for the Vodafone-Idea merger are unfair

On Monday, the Department of Telecommunications gave its approval to the long-pending merger of Vodafone and Idea, two of the biggest players in the Indian market. While this will clear the decks for what will be the world's second-largest telecom company, the conditions set by the DoT are unfair. According to initial reports, the department has asked Idea Cellular to pay Rs 39 billion in cash for Vodafone’s spectrum and furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 33 billion, which the companies have reportedly decided to comply with to prevent further delay. The closure of the merger is a relief, not