Date:13/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/09/13/stories/2006091303120400.htm

Back BSNL drops tariffs to Lanka, West Asia

Our Bureau

Calls to West Asia to cost 20 per cent less

New Delhi , Sept. 12

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) subscribers can pay lower tariffs for long distance calls to Sri Lanka and West Asian countries from October 1. The State-owned company has reduced its international long distance tariffs for Sri Lanka by 40 per cent and for West Asian countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Oman and Qatar by 20 per cent.

"The tariffs have been reduced to offer customers a good choice and to be ahead of competition. The sector of Sri Lanka and West Asian countries have the maximum call traffic from India," said a BSNL press release. The move will benefit families of a large number of Indians working in the Gulf region.

Revised rates

As per the new tariffs for Sri Lanka, the pulse rate has been changed from six to 10 seconds and the charges have been reduced to Rs 7.2 per minute as against existing rate of Rs 12 per minute. For West Asian countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Oman and Qatar, the rates have been reduced from Rs 12 a minute to Rs 9.6 per minute and pulse rate has been increased from existing 6 to 7.5 seconds.

The revised rates will apply to all calls originated from fixed, cellular and WLL (M) phones of BSNL and also applicable to trunk calls and PCOs as well.