STD calls at Re1 per minute from March 1

10 February 2006

Mumbai: The much awaited One India tariffs at a uniform rate of Re1 per minute for calls anywhere in the country from landlines and fixed WLL phone lines will come in to effect from March 1, 2006. State telecom PSUs, BSNL and MTNL today jointly announced the new telecom packages.

Exisiting BSNL and MTNL customers can avail the option to switch to the One India plan from Monday, February 13.

Under the new tariff package, the customers of the two PSU telecom majors' fixed line services would have a rental of Rs299 a month with local calls (within a 50km range) being charged at Rs1 for three minutes.

All other calls beyond 50km made from landline phones anywhere in the country or on mobile phones will be charged at Re1 per minute.

For its post-paid mobile services, BSNL has proposed a rent of Rs299 with call rates to other subscribers the two networks at 40 paise a minute and calls to other networks across the country at Re1 per minute.

The pre-paid subscribers, on the other hand, are being offered a package or Rs799 which would include a talk time of Rs550 for a validity period of 30 days. Under the package, calls made to BSNL subscribers would be at the rate of 60 paise a minute while for other networks it would be at the Re1 per minute.

Increased usage volumes and new subscribers, particularly in the rural areas are expected to meet the revenue drop from the lowering of the call charges.