Bangalore: Bharti Mobile Limited, which has over 2,75,000 subscribers in the state has announced a reduction on roaming charges for subscribers in Karnataka roaming on AirTel networks. The new roaming tariffs are effective from August 16, 2002.

With this initiative AirTel subscribers who are regional and national roamers will be charged Rs 1.49 per minute instead of the earlier airtime charge of Rs 3 per minute, a reduction of 50 per cent in airtime charges. Apart from reducing airtime charges for roaming subscribers, Airtel has also reduced prices on SMS charges by 50 per cent. The new rates are Rs 1.49 per SMS from the earlier rate of Rs 3 per SMS, an AirTel release said.

The reduction in airtime charges is also applicable to regional and national roaming subscribers from other AirTel Circles roaming into AirTel Karnataka.

In addition AirTel subscribers can benefit from reduction on security deposit charges. The new security deposit charges for regional roaming is Rs 1,500 from the earlier rate of Rs 2,000. The new charges for security deposit for national roaming is Rs 4,500 from the earlier rate of Rs 6,000. The security deposit for international roaming will be Rs 10,250 from the earlier rate of Rs 13,000.

According to Jagdish Kini, CEO, Bharti Mobile Limited, South Central region, "These tariffs are designed to provide our existing and potential customers across the country a cost effective platform to communicate," the release said.

PTI