New Delhi: Mobile calls get cheaper. Bharti Airtel has reduced STD and roaming charges for mobile phones by 40 per cent.
STD rates are down to Rs 1.50 per minute from Rs 2.65 per minute presently.
Bharti Airtel, 30 per cent owned by Singapore's SingTel, also announced a drastic cut in roaming rates under which incoming roaming calls will be charged at Re 1 a minute compared with the existing Rs 1.75.
While roaming, the customer can make an outgoing local call at Re 1 a minute and an STD call at Rs 1.50 a minute.
The move by Airtel is expected to start a similar trend among all cellular operators like Vodafone Essar, Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices to get more customers.
A Vodafone Essar spokesperson said: "The company has always endeavored to deliver best value to customers and we will offer them the best value in this instance too."
It must note that, Telecom regulator TRAI has been urging operators to reduce roaming rates for while, saying they have been on the higher side. TRAI has already abolished practice of levying Access Deficit Charges (ADC) on private operators.
Bharti Airtel President & CEO Manoj Kohli said: "Many users switch off their phones while on roaming as they feel the incoming rates are very high. We plan to check that with this reduction."
Asked about the hit the company would have to take following this reduction, he said, whatever is the impact that would be offset by the elasticity of volume, adding "this initiative will particularly benefit rural customers."
(With agency inputs)
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