Bharti, RCom slash STD rates, BSNL may follw suit

NEW DELHI:  Long distance tariffs took a nosedive on Monday with two leading operators Bharti and Reliance announcing rate cuts and free calls, while state run operator BSNL said it will look into the possibilities of reducing the STD rates.
    
After local call rates touching the bottom of tariffs, long dsitance call rates - STD and roaming - are now entering the reduction phase, benefitting customers in the world's second largest wireless market.
    
Anil Ambani-led RCom launched unlimited STD at Rs 440 a month for post paid users while its prepaid customers will be able to do unlimited STD at Rs 496 a month for calls within the network.
    
Earlier country's number one cellular operator Bharti Airtel cut long distance and roaming tariffs by up to 43 per cent benefiting its 62 million customers and starting a new price war on this segment after local calls.
    
"Our roaming rates are already the lowest ...there may not be any more scope of reducing. Our tariffs for outgoing calls in roaming is as low as 65 paise... We will see if in STD something can be done," BSNL Director Finance S D Saxena said.
    
Airtel has reduced STD rates by 43.39 per cent to Rs 1.50 minute from the earlier Rs 2.65/ minute. It is available for both pre and post paid users.
    
The company has also cut the roaming rates as per which a customer will be able to receive a call while roaming at Re 1 per minute, as compared to Rs 1.75/minute at present, a reduction of 42.85 per cent. Further, while roaming, Airtel customers can make outgoing local calls at Re 1/minute and an STD call at Rs 1.50/minute.