Bharti Airtel Prepays ₹8,465 Crore to DoT

Bharti Airtel has prepaid ₹8,465 crore to the Department of Telecommunications to partially clear its spectrum dues from the 2016 auction, aiming to reduce interest costs and free up cash. The payment, which had an interest rate of 9.3%, is part of Airtel's strategy to manage its financial liabilities better as it expands its 4G and 5G networks. The company had previously prepaid ₹7,904 crore to clear dues from the 2012 and 2015 spectrum auctions. This latest payment comes after the Supreme Court of India rejected telecom firms' request to recalculate their dues. Analysts suggest that this prepayment will enhance Airtel's financial health and support its ongoing nationwide 5G rollout.