Archive · 14 Jan 2026
COAI Seeks Regulatory Fee Cuts in Budget
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which includes big companies like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, has asked the government to lower some fees and taxes in the upcoming budget.
They want the licence fee to be reduced from 3% to 0.5-1% to cover only administrative costs.
They also suggested that the government should stop putting money into the Digital Bharat Nidhi until the existing funds are used up.
Additionally, COAI proposed that certain taxes on spectrum payments should either be exempted or reduced to 5% from the current 18%.
They believe these changes will help telecom companies expand and provide better internet services.
COAI seeks reduction in licence fee from 3% to 0.5-1% of AGR.
Proposed pause in funds to Digital Bharat Nidhi until existing corpus is utilized.
Requested GST exemption on regulatory payments or reduction to 5% under Reverse Charge.
COAI argues for recalibration of spectrum pricing and assignment models.
Members include Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea.
- Who
- Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI)
- What
- Requested reduction in regulatory levies and GST on spectrum payments
- When
- Ahead of the upcoming budget
- Where
- India
- Why
- To reduce financial burden and enable expansion of next-generation connectivity
- Organization
- Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI)
- Members
- Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea
- Current Licence Fee
- 3% of AGR
- Proposed Licence Fee
- 0.5-1% of AGR
- GST Rate on Spectrum Payments
- 18% (proposed 5%)
- Digital Bharat Nidhi
- 5% of AGR
