M A I N   N E W S

STD rates to be cut from Oct 1

NEW DELHI, Aug 28 (PTI) — In a major move to correct tariff structure and cut down cross subsidies, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today announced a significant cut of up to Rs 12 per minute in the rates of STD/ISD calls.

The new rates, as part of the second phase of tariff rebalancing, would be effective from October 1, 2000 till March 2002, TRAI said in a statement here, adding that domestic long distance (STD) rates would continue to decline due to opening up of this sector for private players earlier this month.

As per the new tariff rates, maximum relief of Rs 4.80 per minute was given in STD calls for radial distance of over 1,000 km with a pulse rate of Rs 1.20 which were cut from Rs 30 per minute to Rs 25.20.

A maximum relief of Rs 12 was announced for international calls made to countries in American continent and other places in Western Hemisphere where rates were slashed from Rs 61.20 per minute to Rs 49.20 per minute.

At the same time the regulator decided against increasing the rentals although the second phase, earlier scheduled from April 2000 till March 2001, had originally sought an increase in rentals for subscribers making more than 500 metered calls per month of the billing cycle that could have resulted in additional revenue of Rs 200 crore annually.

In its first round, TRAI had increased the local call charges as well as rental last May in a bid to cut down cross subsidies that made long distance callers to bear the extra burden.

In STD on a pulse charge of Re 1 the charges between 200 and 500 km have decreased from Rs 13 to Rs 10. Distances between 500 and 1,000 km for the same pulse charge has been slashed from Rs 18 to Rs 15 and above 1,000 km these will be Rs 21 from the existing Rs 25.

On a pulse charge of Rs 1.20 the 200 to 500 km slab has decreased from Rs 15.60 to Rs 12. Between 500 and 1,000 km from Rs 21.60 to Rs 18.

Calls made to SAARC and other neighbouring countries on a pulse charge of 80 paise have come down to Rs 16.80 from Rs 20. On a pulse charge of Re 1 it is now down to Rs 21 from Rs 25. While on a pulse charge of Rs 1.20 it has come down to Rs 25.20 from the existing Rs 30.

While calls made to countries in Africa, Europe, Gulf, Asia and Oceania on a pulse rate of 80 paise has come to Rs 27.20 from Rs 32.80. On a pulse charge of Re 1 it has come down from Rs 41 to Rs 34 while on Rs 1.20 pulse charge the rates have come down from Rs 40.80 to Rs 49.20.