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3 companies launch roaming plans

Staff Reporter

BSNL, MTNL, and RCom cut roaming charges; limited free incoming calls offered

NEW DELHI: The state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) on Friday launched identical "Roaming Freedom" plans, cutting national roaming charges and offering 300 minutes of free incoming calls. Private operator Reliance Communications also introduced two plans offering limited free incoming calls while roaming.

As per the new post-paid plans of BSNL and MTNL that will become operational from June 3, a subscriber will have to make an initial payment of Rs. 1,250, which includes monthly fixed charges of Rs. 550. He will get 300 minutes of free incoming calls while roaming, after which Re. 1 per minute will be charged. Similarly, Re. 1 will be charged for outgoing calls and sending SMS.

Local calls to BSNL mobiles will cost only 40 paise per minute, and calls to other networks will cost Re. 1 per minute. A similar amount will be charged for STD calls.

Speaking to mediapersons, Union Communications and IT Minister A. Raja said the BSNL and MTNL plans would be launched on June 3 to mark the birthday of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi. Asked why he was not abolishing roaming charges as announced by his predecessor Dayanidhi Maran, he said he had no clue about such a plan; neither was any exercise or study conducted by the Telecom Ministry in this regard. "It is a first step towards zero roaming, and one day it will become reality." He hoped that private operators would also offer free roaming soon.

Reliance Communications, which recently slashed roaming charges by 70 per cent, also launched two plans. Under its "India Roam Free Plan 990," a subscriber will get 900 incoming minutes and 400 calls free after paying a monthly rental of Rs. 990. Under the "India Roam Free 390" plan, on a monthly rental of Rs. 390, a subscriber will get 200 minutes of free incoming roaming.

Under both the plans, Re. 1 will be charged for incoming calls after the free calls are exhausted. A similar charge will be applicable on inter-circle outgoing calls. In case of intra-circle calls in the same network, 40 paise per minute will be charged for outgoing calls under the Rs. 390 plan and 50 paise under the Rs. 990 plan.

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