Roaming rates set to crash by 55%
Incoming SMSes while roaming will be free, and the 15% surcharge on air time and separate PSTN charges have also been waived off.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Mobile roaming has become hands-free, with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) slashing tariffs by a whopping 55% and abolishing roaming rentals.
For the travelling exec, the good news doesn���t stop at that. Incoming SMSes while roaming will be free, and the 15% surcharge on air time and separate PSTN charges have also been waived off. All this will be effective from February 15.
As per the revised tariffs, a mobile user travelling outside his home network will now pay Rs 1.40 per minute for a local call, as against the current rate of up to Rs 3.09 per minute, thereby resulting in a 55% cut. Subscribers will be paying a flat Rs 2.40 per minute for all outgoing STD calls and Rs 1.75 per minute for all incoming calls while on roaming, irrespective of the distance. At present, service providers charge a maximum of Rs 3.99 per minute for both outgoing and incoming STD calls while on roaming.
The savings for subscribers will be substantial. Under the current pricing regime, if a Delhi subscriber goes to Mumbai for two days and makes 50 minutes of local calls, 50 minutes of STD calls and receives 50 minutes of incoming calls, his bill will be Rs 553.50 (plus roaming rental). Under the new regime, for the same usage, his bill will only be Rs 277.50.
Even as consumer groups welcomed the move, GSM players expressed ���deep distress and disappointment at the unwarranted sharp reduction in roaming tariffs���, and said the ���adverse financial impact on the industry is expected to be Rs 800-900 crore���.
However, Trai chairman Nripendra Mishra told ET that the allegations of GSM operators are baseless as the ���regulator had taken into account all factors before deciding on the revised tariffs���. ���Only about 10% of the service providers��� revenues come from roaming.���
For the travelling exec, the good news doesn���t stop at that. Incoming SMSes while roaming will be free, and the 15% surcharge on air time and separate PSTN charges have also been waived off. All this will be effective from February 15.
As per the revised tariffs, a mobile user travelling outside his home network will now pay Rs 1.40 per minute for a local call, as against the current rate of up to Rs 3.09 per minute, thereby resulting in a 55% cut. Subscribers will be paying a flat Rs 2.40 per minute for all outgoing STD calls and Rs 1.75 per minute for all incoming calls while on roaming, irrespective of the distance. At present, service providers charge a maximum of Rs 3.99 per minute for both outgoing and incoming STD calls while on roaming.
The savings for subscribers will be substantial. Under the current pricing regime, if a Delhi subscriber goes to Mumbai for two days and makes 50 minutes of local calls, 50 minutes of STD calls and receives 50 minutes of incoming calls, his bill will be Rs 553.50 (plus roaming rental). Under the new regime, for the same usage, his bill will only be Rs 277.50.
Even as consumer groups welcomed the move, GSM players expressed ���deep distress and disappointment at the unwarranted sharp reduction in roaming tariffs���, and said the ���adverse financial impact on the industry is expected to be Rs 800-900 crore���.
However, Trai chairman Nripendra Mishra told ET that the allegations of GSM operators are baseless as the ���regulator had taken into account all factors before deciding on the revised tariffs���. ���Only about 10% of the service providers��� revenues come from roaming.���
ADVERTISEMENT
Start a SIP with as low as ₹500 with ET Money App!
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
