The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has slapped an Rs.48,000-crore demand notice on Oil India for using optic fibre network for internal communication. The state-owned oil and gas explorer said it plans to challenge the order in Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). The dues sought are 3 times the company's market value of Rs.15,900 crore.

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices will request SC to allow the operators to discuss with the government and come up with a suitable time-frame to make the payments. According to people aware of the development, this is a last-ditch effort by the telcos to ensure that they get some relief from the apex court in terms of timeline to make statuary payment.

The country's billion-plus mobile users may have to brace for more sharp jumps in phone bills by end-2020 itself with telcos likely to raise prices by another 25-30% with average revenue per user (ARPU) still low and overall telecom-related consumer spends in India amongst the lowest globally, industry executives and analysts said.