Mobile cos for tax cuts

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents the GSM mobile operators has asked the government to rationalise multiple taxes and duties levied on the telecom sector to help reduce the cost of services.

According to the association, the various taxes on the telecom sector add up to 24-30 per cent of the operators adjusted gross revenues and were the highest amongst the Asian countries.

T. V Ramachandran, director-general, COAI, said that the association has also sought tax benefits for telecom sector at par with other infrastructure sectors. He said that keeping in mind the immense contributions of the telecom sector, it was necessary that the telecom sector be treated at par with other infrastructure sectors as far as tax benefits are concerned.

Ramachandran said that the telecom sector had emerged as the key driver of economic growth in India. COAI also sought the removal of the requirement of quoting the PAN number at the time of taking a mobile connection.