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BSNL, MTNL partially roll back tariff hike
May 13, 2003 14:55 IST
State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd on Tuesday announced a partial roll-back in telephone tariffs by increasing the number of free calls per month.
While BSNL increased free calls from 50 to 75 per month for rural subscribers and 30 to 50 for urban subscribers, MTNL announced that it would give 60 free calls every month as opposed to 30 announced earlier.
BSNL also halved landline call charges to cellphones to Rs 1.20 per minute instead of Rs 1.20 for 30 seconds announced earlier.
However, there would be no change in MTNL's tariff for calls from landlines to cellphones.
Telecom Minister Arun Shourie told reporters that the twin roll-backs will cost BSNL Rs 3,476 crore (Rs 34.76 billion) during this financial year.
The corporation would lose Rs 2,600 crore (Rs 26 billion) on account of change in pulse rate for calls from landlines to cellphones, while the loss on account of increasing free calls would be Rs 876 crore (Rs 8.76 billion).
For MTNL, increasing free calls would lead to a revenue loss of Rs 140 crore (Rs 1.40 billion) annually, he added.
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Number of User Comments: 125
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Sub: As Usual a double hike and a single roll back
It is the usual gimmick by governments whether be petrol, or taxes in budgets, or telephone, electricity charges. They increase the tariffs steep and then ...
Posted by bona
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Sub: good move but not enouch
mr.shourie This is a good move but not enough give us more pulse time and give back our free calls
Posted by omprakash D N
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Sub: Good move
This is a good move after breaking hearts of so many people, i dont know why people of INDIA do not react or revolt for ...
Posted by Hameed
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Sub: Let the Market forces have free play
The more the Government Intervenes more the problems. Why not scrap TRAI's power in determining/approving Tariffs? If a company is giving lower than others the ...
Posted by M G R
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Sub: MTNL,BSNL roll back hike
Roll back should be full & not partial
Posted by RD Upadhye
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