Trai SMS to DoT: Use bank guarantees to recover fine from telcos over spam

Trai took the step after the telcos did not pay up despite several reminders over the last few years. The maximum amount needs to be paid by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), amounting to around Rs 50 crore for defaults over 8-10 years, followed by Bharti Airtel (Rs 20 crore), Vodafone Idea (Rs 15 crore) and Reliance Jio (Rs 12 crore). The private telcos haven’t paid penalties for a period of 10 months to three years, said an official.