Yesterday, I wrote an article titled “SUC Waiver: A Boost for Vi, But a Blow to High-Frequency Spectrum Auctions,” discussing the speculation that the Government of India (GOI) is considering waiving Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC) on previously auctioned spectrum. These charges, imposed in addition to the upfront auction payments, are determined by the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA)—a legally binding document that outlines the auction terms, which the GOI must honor for every tranche of spectrum acquired in past auctions.
This proposed waiver would be in addition to the existing exemption on all spectrum acquired in auctions held from 2022 onwards. While the potential cost savings for Vodafone Idea (Vi) appeared relatively minor, a viewer raised an important question:
