Vodafone Idea, India's third-largest telecom operator, has obtained substantial financial respite through a structured long-term repayment plan approved by the Department of Telecommunications for its longstanding Adjusted Gross Revenue liabilities. The schedule, detailed in a recent exchange filing, allows the company to spread payments across 15 years until March 2041, significantly alleviating immediate fiscal strain and supporting ongoing efforts to bolster operational stability and market competitiveness.

The repayment framework commences with capped annual instalments of up to ₹124 crore from March 2026 through March 2031, providing predictable outflows during the initial phase. This is followed by reduced payments of ₹100 crore annually from March 2032 to March 2035, before transitioning to equal instalments for the outstanding balance over the subsequent six-year period ending in March 2041.

The underlying AGR dues, frozen as of December 31, 2025, encompass principal amounts along with accrued interest, penalties, and interest on penalties for the assessment periods from FY 2006-07 to FY 2018-19, totaling approximately ₹87,695 crore based on government computations. In an additional measure of relief, the DoT has committed to establishing a dedicated committee for reassessment of these dues, with any revised figure similarly repayable in equal portions during the final 2036-2041 window.

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This accommodative approach follows Supreme Court observations in late 2025 judgments, which recognized the government's policy discretion to revisit dues in view of broader public interest considerations, including its significant equity stake in Vodafone Idea and the implications for nearly 20 crore subscribers reliant on the network's continuity.

While the company persists in disputing an extra ₹9,450 crore demand and pursuing waivers on interest and penalty components of contested claims, total outstanding government obligations hover near ₹2 trillion, divided between spectrum-related payments and AGR commitments. The extended timeline offers critical breathing room as Vodafone Idea navigates industry challenges and pursues recovery strategies.

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