Govt Reforms to free up cash about Rs.45000 crore annually for the Telecom Service Providers : Care Ratings
Biznextindia : The structural and procedural reforms announced by the government for the Telecom sector will have a positive impact on liquidity profiles of Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) which would enable the companies to make investments in 5G and infrastructure development.
According to a report by Care Ratings, the moratorium of up to four years in annual payments of AGR and spectrum dues of TSPs would free up cash of about Rs.45,000 crore annually for the TSPs, which can be utilized towards business investments. At the same time, availment of moratorium will attract an interest component with NPV protection thereby ensuring a revenue neutral package from GoI’s standpoint.
The reforms also provide flexibility to TSPs who will have the option to pay the interest amounts, arising on account of deferment of payments, by way of ownership in the enterprise, i.e., an option to GoI to convert the amount due, post moratorium, into equity of the TSP.
Modification in the highly argued definition of AGR by excluding all non-telecom revenue and reduction of interest rates on SUC/ LF at SBI’s MCLR plus 2% to be compounded annually, will boost the liquidity for TSPs. Earlier, high interest (@SBI’s MCLR+4%), compounded monthly, was being charged on delayed payments of SUC/ LF, along with penalty and interest on penalty, which created an additional burden on the TSPs.
On the other hand, the Care Ratings report said, 100% FDI permission under automatic route as against 49% allowed presently, is indeed a welcome move which shall attract investments in this sector.
With freeing up of liquidity, companies will be able to make investments in 5G networks, fiber optics and tower infrastructure, which will further improve the proliferation and penetration of broadband and telecom connectivity.
The reforms are expected to promote healthy competition and protect the interest of the consumers at large. Furthermore, with the option to surrender the spectrum after lock-in period of 10 years, TSPs shall have the flexibility to exit from less revenue accretive segments. The Cabinet in its briefing hinted at introducing additional reforms after the 5G spectrum auction for facilitation of new entrants and healthy competition in the industry, read the report.
Removal of BG requirement to secure spectrum instalment payments and rationalization through single BG requirement towards multiple licensed service areas shall taper the nonfund based exposure of banks to the sector significantly. This may provide additional head room to the lenders ~ Rs 40,000-Rs 42,000 crore for funding investments in 5G networks/ other capital expenditure of the TSPs.
The Union Cabinet on September 15, 2021, approved the reforms for telecom sector and announced the broad contours of the revival package. Through these reforms, the Government of India (GoI) has addressed the liquidity woes of the telecom sector to a large extent. Moratorium up to four years in payment of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) and spectrum dues is expected to free up cash of about Rs.45,000 crore annually for the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) along with release of Bank Guarantee (BG) limits aggregating ~ Rs 30,000-32,000 crore. Besides reduction in BG requirement towards License Fee (LF) & other levies (estimated to release non-fund based limits of TSPs by ~Rs.10,000 crore) and allowance of 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) are bound to resurrect the confidence of the stakeholders in the medium term. For the players though the real litmus test will be their ability to raise tariffs in the near to medium term.