Reliance Communications hikes call rates by 20 %

In line with competing telecom operators, Anil Ambani Group firm Reliance Communications (RCom) has hiked call rates by 20 per cent for both its GSM and CDMA services across most of its operating circles.

''We have increased tariffs in most of the circles over last couple of months, from 1 paisa to 1.2 paise per second,'' RCom head (wireless business) Syed Safawi said.
The hike is due to inflationary pressure in the country, he said, adding the telecom operator expects to full impact of of the hike in the next two quarters.

The company has hiked call rates for both on- and off-net calls for GSM services and off-net calls for CDMA services.

In July, Bharti Airtel increased tariffs by 20 per cent for pre-paid subscribers in six circles under in two pre-paid plans - Advantage and Freedom - for calls and messages within its own network (See: Bharti Airtel hikes pre-paid call rates, others set to follow).

Earlier, last month Tata DoCoMo had also announced plans to hike call rates.

Idea Cellular earlier had withdrawn a promotional scheme in Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh (West), Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, leading to an effective hike of tariffs by 20 per cent.