BSNL cuts ISD rates to US, Canada, Gulf

New Delhi: State-run telecom major BSNL has slashed calling rates to the US and Canada to Rs 1.75 per minute and to Rs 6.75 per minute to the Gulf, slightly lower than the rates offered by private firms.

These are the busiest ISD routes from India. Private telecom companies offer ISD calls at Rs 1.99 per minute to the US and Rs 6.99 a minute for the Gulf countries.

BSNL also plans to introduce Call Now, a new STD / ISD calling card that will enable a user to call in the US at Rs 1.75 per minute using a card worth Rs 2,000, which will have a validity of three months.

Consumers can call France and Russia at Rs 3.25 per minute while calls to the UK and South East Asia are Rs 5.50 per minute to the rest of Europe and Sri Lanka, and Rs 8 per minute to the rest of the world. Local and STD calls will be charged Re 1 per minute under the plan.