Vodafone offers DOT Rs 4,000 crore for licence extension

New Delhi, July 2:

India, the second largest

player in the country has offered to pay the department of telecom (DoT) Rs 4,000 crore for retaining

in three circles - Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata - as its

is expiring in Delhi in 2014.

According to informed sources, Vodafone wrote to the DoT: "For extension of our licences for 20 years along with the current mix of spectrum and a flat spectrum usage charge of 3 percent of AGR, we are willing to pay Rs 4,000 crore."

It offered to pay Rs 1,700 crore each for Delhi and Mumbai circles and Rs 600 crore for the Kolkata circle.

Vodafone has said in the letter: "We reiterate that we are willing to discuss this issue further so as to arrive at mutually agreed terms and conditions for extension as provided under our licence and is also desirable for continuity of service and public interest."

IANS