Reportedly, the Department of Telecommunications has proposed that the universal service obligation fund (USOF), which is paid as part of the licensing fee, be reduced by 2% which will reduce the total cost of the slave to 6% to 8%. Meanwhile, it is estimated that telecom operators could benefit from the Rs 3,000 crore if the proposal is accepted. Maybe the DoT has submitted this proposal to the wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital Communications Commission (DCC).
Furthermore, the DCC is a broad-based government body which includes representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Department of Promotion of industry and Internal Trade, the Ministry of Electronics and Information technology and niti aayog, besides the Department of Telecommunications. The DoT, however, is silent on the large AGR dues of Rs 1.45 lakh crore that telecom operators are forced to contend with, following the Supreme Court's order. Apparently the operators have already struggled with mounting losses due to the cut-throat competition. Vodafone idea has stated that they may consider closing down operations if the government does not intervene and offer some relief and telcos at least.
This is a large amount of revenue collection that the government is concerned about, and it is easy to get a drop or delay in collecting. Maybe the USOF, TRAI has said the funds, originally meant to improve rural telephony, have not been utilized beyond 50%.
