ARPU

The investment will include four to five billion dollar for the infrastructure. The telecom infrastructure providers had not demanded tax concessions however the input tax that the industry pays towards Goods and Services Tax (GST) needs to be set off

In the Indian telecom industry, which is facing low returns on investment, the average revenue per user (ARPU) must increase. Expectedly, the industry may spend 10 to 15 billion dollar for the expansion of 5G coverage across the nation in coming four to five years, informed a top Bharti executive.

The vice chairman of Bharti Enterprises which is the parent entity of India’s second largest telecom, Bharti Airtel, Akhil Gupta said that investment is foremost and an investment of 10 to 15 billion dollar is required to reach to the masses. This will include four to five billion dollar for the infrastructure.

The telecom infrastructure providers had not demanded tax concessions however the input tax that the industry pays towards Goods and Services Tax (GST) needs to be set off, Gupta added while speaking at the third edition of the Digital Telco Summit – 2022.

Highlighting the recent government policies, he said that the time for right-of-way clearances witnessed a fall to nearly 20 days from 200 days earlier.

Adding, the industry had a long way to go, Gupta said that at around 80 per cent telecom towers are required to be fiberised.