Lower phone bills? Telcos may dial Centre for reducing GST

The telecom industry is likely to seek a reduction in the goods and services tax (GST) rates on telecom services to 5% from the current 18%, executives said.

Senior industry executives that ET spoke to said that since telecom is an essential service, a 5% rate should be charged. If this request is accepted by the GST Council, the mobile and broadband bills of consumers may get slashed drastically post-Diwali, when the GST reforms are expected to be implemented.