India's top telecoms companies, including Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, have appealed to the government for reduced levies, saying the sector requires more financial relaxation and support for viability and sustenance. Through the Cellular Operators Association of India, the industry is seeking a reduction in licence fees, from 3% to 1% and a deferral of the universal service obligation levy of 5% until funds to the value of INR64,774 crore are exhausted. The telecom industry is predicted to have closed FY2023 with around INR6.3 lakh crore of debt (approx. $85bn).