Thursday, January 20 2005 21:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Private mobile operators AirTel and Hutch today (Jan 20, 2005) reduced long distance tariffs by Rs 1.75 for ISD calls and 35 paise for STD calls, but the reduced ISD tariffs would still be more than double of those offered by other telecom operators like BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd).

A one-minute call from BSNL's mobile phone to the US would cost Rs 7.20 while AirTel and Hutch's post-paid subscribers would have to shell out Rs 14.24 (reduced) per minute from February 1. MTNL (Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd) charges Rs 12 a minute for a call to the US.

When contacted, companies' officials said each operator has different carriage charges with international operators and therefore, tariffs would differ between operators.

AirTel said that the promise, made on the day of announcement of new Access Deficit Charge (ADC) regime that 100 per cent benefit would be passed on to subscribers, has been implemented. New tariffs will come into effect from February 1.

In the domestic long distance (STD), both the private operators have reduced the tariffs by 35 paise for calls to other networks. The tariff of Rs 2 a minute for a STD call between AirTel to AirTel is unchanged.

The pre-paid users of both service providers would pay Rs 15.24 a minute to US, UK, Canada, SE Asia and SAARC countries while to Middle East, it will cost Rs 18.24 a minute from February 1.