BSNL set to slash domestic roaming

Our Corporate Bureau
31 May 2007

Mumbai: State-owned telecom major Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is likely to cut domestic mobile roaming charges to as low as Re 1 a minute for incoming calls and Rs 1.50 for outgoing calls.

Currently, BSNL charges roaming calls at Rs 1.75 per minute and a maximum of Rs 2.40 a minute for making calls.

Telecom minister A Raja had earlier said that the department of telecommunications was looking at the possibility of lowering domestic roaming charges, as planned by his predecessor Dayanidhi Maran.

The rates, however, are unlikely to fall below Re 1 a minute as there is a 65 paise carriage charge and 30 paise termination charge involved when a person receives an incoming call while roaming.

Meanwhile, BSNL's 45-million GSM network expansion plan is likely to be held up further over prices quoted by the two lowest bidders - Ericsson and Nokia.