BSNL cuts ISD rates to most SAARC countries

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has reduced international call rates to some member countries of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) by 15-35 per cent.

Effective 1 November, BSNL customers, both mobile and landline, would be able to make calls to Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Bhutan at cheaper rates.

Under the post-paid plan 725, the BSNL cellphone users can make calls to the four countries at Rs9 per minute instead of the existing Rs10.

Under the post-paid and pre-paid plans, call charges to these countries would be Rs9 per minute instead of Rs12.

For BSNL fixed line users, call charges to these four countries would now be Rs9.60 per minute against the earlier rate of Rs12 a minute.

BSNL also has plans to cut call rates to Middle Eastern countries.
 
The telecom regulatory authority of India (TRAI) has been trying to reduce roaming charges among the SAARC countries. The issue was discussed at the South Asian Telecommunications Regulators' Council (SATRC) meeting in October in New Delhi.