BSNL reduces fixed line rates

NEW DELHI: State-owned BSNL on Tuesday lowered its rental to Rs 225 a month from Rs 299 and also offered free calls.

BSNL Director (Commercial) GS Grover announced the new tariffs on the sidelines of a meeting of the GSM Association in the presence of Communication and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran.

According to sources, BSNL's One-India plan offering call charges at fixed Re 1 to anywhere in India at a monthly rental of Rs 299 has failed to bring in subscribers for the scheme.

Whereas general rental of BSNL is Rs 180 with 30 free calls in a month.

On Tuesday BSNL also announced 25 free calls in a month.

The local call rates would continue to be Re 1 for a three minute call.

BSNL said all other existing tariff plans would continue to be in operation including the lower rentals scheme in rural areas and 'OneIndia' tariff plan would be optional.

Under the new tariff package for BSNL's landine users, the local call charges will be Re 1 for three minutes within BSNL network (earlier Rs 1.20 for three minutes) while calls to other networks both landline and mobile will be Re 1 per minute within a state (intra-circle). This was earlier Rs 1.20 a minute.