If some fears are anything to go by, nearly 100,000 jobs will be lost in the telecom sector soon. This is happening because of the persistent non-clearance of dues worth Rs 20,000 crore from the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to private telecom operators.

"The non-payment of dues is negatively affecting the industry from top to bottom at various levels. As it is, the sector has been stressed financially for long. If the dues don't get cleared, there will be a huge shredding of jobs in the coming weeks," an industry observer has been quoted as saying.

There is more to the telecom industry's troubles.

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone-Idea will have to pay as much as Rs 90,000 Cr of Adjusted Gross Revenue-related dues to the government within 90 days. It's as per an order of the Supreme Court.