MUMBAI: Ratings firm ICRA<\/a> expects telcos<\/a> to shell out around Rs. 1.0-1.1 lakh crore on the upcoming 5G auctions<\/a>. Given the relaxed payment terms however, the upfront outgo is likely to be around Rs. 10,000 crore for the industry<\/a>.
Additionally, the firm said the industry<\/a> needs to shell out Rs. 17,000 crore annually towards spectrum instalments, till the moratorium ends.
While payments rules have been relaxed for the upcoming auctions, ICRA<\/a> believes that participation in the auction will add to the industry’s overall debt since it will add to the deferred spectrum liabilities.
ICRA expects industry debt levels<\/a> to increase to around Rs. 5.7 lakh crore as on March 31, 2023, before moderating to Rs. 5.3 lakh crore as on March 31, 2025, despite fundraising attempts by Bharti Airtel<\/a> and Vodafone Idea<\/a>. The addition of deferred liabilities is expected to keep the debt levels elevated.
ICRA expects the debt metrics to improve steadily going forward given its expectations of improved profit generation. The total debt\/OPBDITA is expected to increase to 4.5x for FY2024 with the addition of deferred spectrum liabilities, before moderating to 4x by FY2025, while the interest coverage is likely to improve to 2.8x for FY2023 and further to 3.3x for FY2025.
While in the core business, 5G<\/a> is likely to drive the growth going forward, the non-telco businesses, which include – enterprise business, cloud services, digital services and fixed broadband services – will also remain crucial for chartering a growth path for the industry.
The telecom industry has been witnessing green-shoots of recovery. The tariff hikes implemented by the industry participants coupled with consistent upgradation of subscribers to 4G from 2G and an increase in usage of telephony services is expected to result in improvement in industry ARPU (barring BSNL) to around Rs 170 by the end of FY2023.
This is expected to translate into growth in industry operating income by around 10-12% and OPBDITA by around 15-18% in FY2023. Ankit Jain, vice president and sector head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA added, “Industry consolidated revenues are expected to be around Rs. 2.6-2.7 lakh crore with OPBDITA of around Rs. 1.2-1.3 lakh crore for FY2023. These are likely to translate into a ROCE of around 9-10% for FY2023 for the industry.”
The Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the auction of 5G<\/a> airwaves which will begin on July 26, and the spectrum will be auctioned for 20 years. Spectrum in the 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands is up for bidding.
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