BSNL cuts roaming, STD rates

The state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited on Monday slashed tariff rates for local, STD and roaming calls by about 40-50 per cent, in a bid to compete with private sector rivals that have announced similar cuts recently.

An STD call from a BSNL phone to a mobile number on another network that earlier cost Rs 2.40 per minute will now cost Rs 1.50. The new rates will be effective from June 11.

BSNL users in the rural areas will be able to make calls at the rate of Rs 0.80 per minute, said Kuldeep Goyal, chairman and managing director of BSNL.

The state-owned mobile service provider has about 36 million mobile subscribers and plans to add around 12 million more over the next one year, said Anil Jain, of BSNL.

Along with new tariff plans, BSNL also introduced a handset targeted at customers in rural and semi-urban areas priced below Rs 1,500.