Vodafone Idea , one of India's leading telecom operators, is facing another delay in its legal battle as the Supreme Court postpones the hearing of the company's petition against an additional Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) demand. The next hearing is now scheduled for October 6.

Legal Challenge and Government Stake

The telecom giant is contesting the Department of Telecom (DoT)'s demand of ₹9,450.00 crore, arguing that it exceeds the scope of the court's previous AGR ruling. This legal battle comes at a crucial time for Vodafone Idea, with the Centre holding a substantial 49% stake in the company. This stake was acquired in 2021 as part of a support package that converted ₹53,000.00 crore of dues into equity.

Breakdown of Disputed Amount

The contested ₹9,450.00 crore can be broken down into two main components:

1. ₹2,774.00 crore related to post-merger dues from the Vodafone-Idea consolidation in August 2018
2. ₹5,675.00 crore concerning pre-merger Vodafone Group liabilities

Government's Stance

While the Centre does not oppose Vodafone Idea's plea, it is seeking a solution to the dispute. However, government ministers have indicated that there are no plans for additional relief or for converting the company into a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU).

Market Response

Despite the ongoing legal challenges, the market has shown positive signs:

• Vodafone Idea shares have gained 11.00% since the last hearing
• Over the past month, the stock has surged by 29.40%

However, it's worth noting that the share price remains below the Follow-on Public Offer (FPO) price of ₹11.00.

Looking Ahead

As the Supreme Court hearing is now postponed to October 6, stakeholders will have to wait longer for a resolution. The outcome of this AGR dues dispute could have significant implications for Vodafone Idea's financial health and its future in India's competitive telecom sector. The repeated postponements add an element of uncertainty to the company's situation, potentially affecting investor sentiment and the company's strategic planning.

Vodafone Idea (Vi), one of India's leading telecom operators, has announced significant changes to its affordable prepaid plans, adjusting validity periods and data allowances to reshape its offering in the competitive telecom market.

Changes in Popular Plans

₹189 Plan

• Old Offering: 28 days validity, 1GB data
• New Offering: 26 days validity, 2GB data
• Unchanged Benefits: Unlimited calling, 300 SMS

Vodafone Idea has reduced the validity of its ₹189 plan by two days, bringing it down to 26 days from the previous 28 days. However, to compensate for the reduced validity, the company has doubled the data offering from 1GB to 2GB. The plan continues to provide unlimited calling and 300 SMS benefits.

₹98 Plan

• Old Offering: 14 days validity
• New Offering: 10 days validity
• Unchanged Benefits: Unlimited calling, 200MB data

The ₹98 plan has seen a more significant reduction in validity, dropping from 14 days to 10 days. Despite the shorter duration, Vi has maintained the plan's other benefits, including unlimited calling and 200MB of data.

Platform Discrepancies

It's worth noting that while these changes are reflected on Vi's official website and the Paytm platform, PhonePe still displays the older 28-day validity for the ₹189 plan. This discrepancy suggests that the rollout of the new plan structure may be in progress across different platforms.

Alternative Options

For users looking for different combinations of validity and data, Vodafone Idea offers alternative plans:

1. ₹218 Plan:

   • One month validity
   • 4GB data

2. ₹95 Plan:

   • 14 days validity
   • 4GB data
   • Includes SonyLIV subscription

These alternative plans provide options for users who prioritize either longer validity or more data, depending on their usage patterns.

Market Implications

The revision of these prepaid plans by Vodafone Idea reflects the ongoing adjustments in the highly competitive Indian telecom market. By reducing validity periods while increasing data allowances in some cases, Vi appears to be balancing the need to maintain revenue streams with the demand for more data among consumers.

As the telecom landscape continues to evolve, customers are advised to carefully review the terms of their prepaid plans and consider their usage patterns to select the most suitable option. The introduction of value-added services like the SonyLIV subscription in the ₹95 plan also indicates a trend towards bundling content services with mobile plans to enhance customer value proposition.