India telecomnews website

Published Date : 20- March- 2007

Indian Telecom tariff to fall from April 2007


In a move that could further reduce mobile tariffs, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has ordered lowering of port charges by about 23-29 per cent for various slabs from April 1.

The latest order of TRAI comes days after it reduced the roaming charges up to 56 per cent. Recently TRAI had issued a consultation paper on access deficit charge (ADC) that is also seen as a move to reduce the STD and ISD tariff.

TRAI said that it expects service providers to pass the benefit of reduction in port charges to the consumers. Port is an essential part for the establishment of the interconnection between two networks. Port charges are paid by interconnection seekers to the provider (such as BSNL) for terminating interconnection links on the network.

The reduction in existing charges is about 23-29 per cent for various slabs. The revised port charges from April 1 will be in the range Rs 10,500-Rs 39,000 instead of the current Rs 14,000-Rs 55,000. Port charges, which private players pay to BSNL and MTNL, have always been a bone of contention as operators complain of the state-owned companies overcharging.