The total revenue of telecom service providers was Rs 50,054 crore during the quarter ended September, according to TRAI data released on Wednesday. Bharti Airtel alone accounted for almost 26 per cent of total industry gross revenue at Rs 13,239 crore. It was followed by state-owned BSNL, with 18 per cent share at Rs 9,040 crore.

Vodafone was next, with 17.8 per cent share at Rs 8,915 crore, followed by Idea Cellular with 10.7 per cent share at Rs 5,360.13 crore and Reliance Communications -- 8.5 per cent share at Rs 4,260.77 crore. Tata group companies, including Tata Teleservices and Tata Communications, held 8.3 per cent share with gross revenue of Rs 4,163.14 crore.

The total adjusted gross revenue (AGR) -- derived only from only telecom business of the operators -- stood at Rs 33,414.44 crore. Telecom service providers are required to pay certain percentage on AGR to government as license fee and spectrum charges.

Of this, government will get around Rs 2,773 crore and Rs 1,105.82 crore as spectrum charges, amounting to Rs 3,857 crore approximately.  Telecom service providers are charged 10 per cent of AGR for Metro Service Areas and category 'A' circles, 8 per cent of AGR for category 'B' circles and 6 per cent of AGR for category 'C' Circles as license fee.

While spectrum charge is 2 per cent of AGR for spectrum up to 4.4 MHz, for spectrum beyond 4.2 MHz up to 6.2 MHz, service providers are required to pay additional charges at the rate of 1 per cent of AGR. For spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz, telecom service providers are required to pay additional 1 per cent of their AGR.