Kolkata:
Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio Infocomm and
Vodafone Idea are staring at potential penalties of about ₹50 crore per
violation for failing to meet their minimum network rollout obligations amid the nationwide lockdown as the telecom department has not extended the compliance timelines beyond May 31. The
telcos have asked the
Department of Telecommunications for a six-to-nine- month extension to complete their rollout targets. The compliance timelines are linked to the spectrum band assigned to them and the date of allocation.
The operators said network equipment imports have been severely hit by global lockdowns imposed after the Covid-19 outbreak. Besides, there have been difficulties in completing tower site acquisitions, drive tests and securing multiple
approvals from state authorities and municipal bodies.