The telecom sector recorded 1.75 percent sequential growth in adjusted gross revenue (AGR) in the April-June quarter, during which Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio saw a rapid uptake of 5G services, further accelerated by sporting events like the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Tuesday showed Bharti Airtel notched up the highest sequential AGR gain in the first quarter of 2023-24, with Jio and Vodafone Idea (Vi) also reporting a quarter-on-quarter increase in AGR, Economic Times reported.

Bharti Airtel’s quarterly AGR, or revenue from licensed services, increased 4.08 percent sequentially to ‘19,256 crore in the April-June period, while Jio and Vi’s increased 2.05 percent and 0.8 percent to ‘23,457.11 crore and ‘7,267.76 crore, respectively, Trai data showed.

The overall telecom sector’s AGR increased 1.75 percent sequentially to ‘65,624 crore in the June quarter.

Higher quarterly AGR translated into higher licence fee and spectrum usage charge (SUC) collections for the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The licence fee mop-up climbed 1.69 percent sequentially to ‘5,246 crore while SUC collections increased 8.32 percent quarter-on-quarter to ‘818 crore, data collated by the regulator showed. Analysts said the sequential growth in SUC collections was sharper – on a low base – as Vi is believed to have cleared some past dues.