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BSNL, MTNL announces 'One-India Plan'

   New Delhi: Telecom service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) today announced the much-awaited 'One-India plan' under which call charges for a one-minute STD call will be Rs 1. The plan will come into force on March 1 after a formal announcement by the telecom PSU which dominates telecom services across the country with more than 1.53 crore subscribers. The Scheme was announced by A K Sinha, CMD, BSNL and R S P Sinha, CMD, MTNL in a joint press conference here today. According to the CMDs, this will be one of the most affordable, customer friendly and innovative schemes for both local and long distance calls. The new plan will enable the customers of BSNL and MTNL to call from one end of the country to the other, either from Kashmir to Kanyakumari or from Dwarka to Dimapur by landline or mobile merely at the cost of Re 1 per minute.

   The plan, also for the first time, takes away the distinction between the fixed line tariff and the cellular tariff and thus, makes the tariff "technology independent". A similar plan has also been introduced for the customers of post- paid and pre-paid mobile services of BSNL and MTNL. Some of the highlights of the plan for the Cellular Services include, Intra circle calls to BSNL mobile just 40 paise for post-paid and 60 paise for pre-paid, Intra circle calls to MTNL mobile just 40 paise for post-paid and 60 paise for pre-paid, Re 1 per minute for all other calls in India and STD tariff reduced by 60 percent. Other highlights of the plan for the Wireless in Local Loop (WLL) services include, local calls to landline at Re 1 for three minutes, STD at the rate of Re 1per minute across the country and across the network and STD (intra and inter) is just Re 1 per minute across the country. The existing BSNL and MTNL landline or mobile customers can also opt or migrate to this plan. With the introduction of the scheme, a large number of customers will be able to use affordable telephone service throughout the country. This in turn will enhance the productivity of the common man especially in the rural parts of the country.

    The Government had planned to launch the plan from January 1, which was announced by Union Communication and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran. However, plan had to be postponed twice as both the Access Deficit Charge (ADC) Component and the fixing of rates for local calls had to be revised by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Reliance Infocomm was among the first private telephone operators to launch such a scheme. However, this scheme might cost a heavy loss for both BSNL and MTNL. Both these companies initially resisted the move by the government but have to give in to the demand from the Telecom Ministry. BSNL alone is expected to face lose up to Rs 5,000 crore annually due to One-India tariff. However, increase in STD traffic would help it in the longer run.
-Feb 10, 2006

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