Airtel, Hutch slash international call rates

ISD (international outgoing call) tariffs will be cheaper by up to 20% from today. With this ISD calling rates from the mobiles are now comparable with landline tariffs. For instance, Bharti Airtel, India’s largest mobile phone company today announced a reduction 8-11% reduction its ILD tariffs, while Hutchison-Essar (in which UKbased Vodafone bought a controlling stake in February) has brought about an uniform reduction of Rs 0.80 per minute on all outgoing international calls. This implies, an ISD call on Hutch, which currently costs Rs 7.20 per minute becomes Rs 6.40 from April 1, while Rs 9.99 per minute becomes Rs 9.19. Ditto with Bharti Airtel. All other operators are also salted to announce similar tariff reductions on Sunday. India, the world’s fastest growing cellular market, also boasts of the lowest telecom tariffs in the world. The reductions follow a directive from telecom regulator Trai last week to slash the access deficit charge (ADC) by 37% to about Rs 2,000 crore for 2007-08 from Rs 3,200 crore, thus allowing all operators to reduce the tariffs, especially ISD rates, from April 1. Trai, in its directive had also abolished the existing levy of Re 0.80 per minute on all outgoing ISD calls while for incoming international calls, the charge has been lowered by 38% to Re 1 per minute from Re 1.60.

courtesy:economictimes