A dispute over parameters like the operator's gross revenue, subscriber numbers, average revenue per user and new additions during the period under review has resulted in varying licence fee calculations by the DoT and Bharti.
The department on Friday instructed ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank to encash the Rs 13 crore (Rs 130 million) bank guarantee submitted by Bharti.
But, following day-long parleys with the company's executives, DoT issued a fresh letter to keep the "instruction in abeyance".
While DoT officials maintained Bharti Tele-Ventures had "defaulted" in paying its licence fee, Bharti executives said it was only a "dispute". Both parties, however, termed the matter as routine.
"Whenever such things happen, we revoke the bank guarantee as it is a routine matter," said a DoT official.
A Bharti spokesperson said, "Calculation of the licence fee is based on a number of factors like average gross revenue, subscriber base, new additions and so on. So, it is natural there will be a difference between what the company says and the government estimates. The matter will be settled amicably through negotiations."
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