With incoming calls becoming free from 1 May 2003 for all cellular phones, landlines and WLL phones, MobileFirst has taken the lead among GSM operators to pass on the benefits of the interconnect usage charge (IUC) regime to its subscribers on long-distance calling.

As per the TRAI circular, the new rates are a single-composite rate for local- and long-distance calling, offering significant savings as compared to the rates in the pre-IUC regime. These rates will be with effect from 1 May.

With the IUC regime coming into force, MobileFirst's STD calling rates for distances up to 200 kms come down to a single composite rate of Rs 3.50 per minute for calling all landlines, mobile phones and WLL phones. This offers a saving of 20-30 per cent on these calls as compared to the earlier average charge of Rs 4.39 for landlines and Rs 4.98 for calling mobile phones (refer table 2).

Similarly, for distances over 200 kms the new composite rate will be Rs 4.50 per minute down from the earlier charge of Rs 6.79 and Rs 4.98 for landlines and mobile phones, respectively. With long-distance calling to mobile phones already rationalised, the new rate for distances over 200 kms will offer over 30-per cent savings on calls to landlines.

On the prepaid front, MobileFirst subscribers will now be able to make local outgoing calls at a flat rate of Rs 3 per minute, which would include the PSTN charges for landlines. At Rs 4 per minute for calls up to 200-km distance, prepaid subscribers will get over 25 per cent savings while calls over 200 kms will be at Rs 5 per minute as opposed to Rs 7.20 earlier. On the postpaid front, MobileFirst has introduced two new tariff plans - MobileFirst 399 and MobileFirst 599.

New MobileFirst tariff plans: table 1
	MobileFirst 399	MobileFirst 599
Monthly tariff fee (includes monthly rental)	399	599
Local outgoing rate/minute including IUC	2.00	1.20
Incoming calls	Free	Free
Pulsing	60 sec	60 sec

MobileFirst benefits after the IUC regime: table 2
Particulars		Pre-IUC	Post IUC
Outgoing STD call (for less than 200 kms)	to a landline / WLL phone	4.39 (1.99 airtime* + 2.40 STD)	3.50
	to a mobilephone	4.98 (1.99 airtime + 2.99 STD)
Outgoing STD call over 200 kms)	to a landline / WLL phone	6.79 (1.99 airtime + 4.80 STD)	4.50
	to a mobilephone	4.98 (1.99 airtime + 2.99 STD)
* Average base airtime rate prevalent across markets

With a backbone of over 10,000 kms, 3 million subscribers across 700 towns, MobileFirst encompasses contiguous cellular circles, with BPL Mobile in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Escotel spanning Haryana, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh West, Uttar Pradesh East, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, RPG Cellular in Chennai, and Spice Telecom in Punjab and Karnataka, providing a pan-Indian footprint.

The MobileFirst advantage

• MobileFirst tariffs - special rates for long-distance calling, roaming and customised tariff plans.
• MobileFirst roaming - seamless roaming across India and over 400 international networks besides a roaming rewards programme.
• MobileFirst new generation technology and services - services like payments through mobile phones, mobile Internet access, mobile entertainment and national location-based services.
• MobileFirst customer service - home network touch 'n' feel with common access numbers across member networks and preferential in-roamer service.

MobileFirst is an alliance of leading cellular operators BPL Mobile, Escotel, RPG Cellular and Spice Telecom. It has an executive management committee that includes key representatives of member companies. MobileFirst has an independent secretariat with working groups for different focus areas.