Latest telecom news includes announcements on Vodafone Idea, Ancala Partners, Phoenix Tower, spectrum auction in India, TRAI, among others.
SC to Hear Vodafone Idea Plea on Additional AGR Demand
The Supreme Court of India will hear Vodafone Idea’s (Vi) plea on October 6, 2025, challenging an additional ₹5,606 crore Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) demand from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for FY2016-17. Vi contends that previous Supreme Court rulings already finalized AGR liabilities up to FY17, barring any reassessment. Vi has also requested a waiver of interest, penalties, and interest on penalties related to AGR dues, citing conflicting judicial interpretations of AGR computation, Economic Times reports.
Ancala Powers Ireland’s Telecom Growth with 300-Tower Acquisition
Ancala Partners acquired 300 telecom towers in Ireland from Phoenix Tower International (PTI). The acquisition was required by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) after PTI purchased Cellnex Telecom’s Irish business in February 2025. The towers now operate under Ancala’s TorLoc Towers platform, which took over existing customer contracts. TorLoc Towers serves mobile network operators, emergency services, rural broadband providers, and private enterprise networks.
TRAI Plans New Spectrum Auctions to Boost 5G and Wi-Fi Access
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper to explore new auction models for spectrum bands, including 6 GHz and 600 MHz, after the June 2024 auction sold only 141 MHz of 10,522 MHz offered. TRAI is considering allowing participation beyond licensed telecom operators and seeks stakeholder feedback on pricing, auction design, and participation norms, with comments invited by October 28 and counter-comments by November 11. The 600 MHz band supports mobile broadband services and 5G due to broad coverage and building penetration, while the 6 GHz band is considered for Wi-Fi expansion to provide higher capacity and faster speeds.
Shafana Fazal