BSNL revises tariff for I-NET

NEW DELHI: The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has revised the tariff for

I-NET from March 1, 2001. The step is part of its market strategy to encourage

subscribers to transact huge amounts of data as well as to increase subscriber

base.

I-NET, BSNL's terrestrial public data network, has more than 110 nodes in

service throughout the country. It has X.25, X.28 and frame relay services,

apart from the X.28 dial up service (X.25, X.28 and Frame Relay refer to the

protocols of the data communication).

While I-NET offers speeds up to 64 Kbps, some nodes offer technical

capability of 128 kbps speed. In August 1998, BSNL accorded 60 per cent

concession on volume charges and 80 per cent on duration charges (volume charges

refer to the tariff for the amount of data sent through the network. Duration

charges refer to the tariff for the duration the channel is engaged for

transmission of the data).

Following are the details of the revised tariff:

* Duration charges are totally abolished.

* 099 access to the nearest I-NET nodes will be at 180-second pulse rate

(i.e. on local call charges as in case of Internet), instead of present STD

pulse rate of 36/48/48/48 seconds.

* Access to Internet through I-NET is made free of volume charges, as the

subscriber is already paying Internet access charges. But customers will pay the

volume charges for the screens browsed of Internet using I-NET as the access

network.

* The volume charges have been reduced from the existing Rs 8/- per kilo

segment (1 Kilo segment = 64 * 8 Kilo/bits of data) for local call and Rs 20/-

per kilo segment for national call to Rs.2/- per kilo segment for both local and

national calls. For International calls the above rates are applicable only for

the domestic portion. For example prior to August 1998, the international call

for I-NET was @ Rs.200 per kilo segment out of which Rs 50/- was for domestic

portion charge. This domestic portion charge has been reduced to Rs 2/- per kilo

segment.

* Installation charges and security deposit for modem have been combined and

to be paid as initial deposit as per existing rates.

* The modem rentals are exempted in case the party itself arranges the modems

for 64 Kbps X.25 leased circuits.

* Modem rental/security deposit paid by the subscriber shall be adjusted in

the bills in case the customer arranges the modem.

* The present slabs, (i.e. 8.00 am to 7.00 pm and 7.00 pm to 8.00 am for full

rate and half rate respectively) have been made into four slabs of 10.00 am to

6.00 pm as the full rate time, 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm as half rate time. This apart,

the 9.00 pm to 7.00 am has been fixed as quarter rate time and 7.00 am to 10.00

am as half-rate time.

* Free Bimonthly Minimum Volume limits have been increased to 320 Kilo

segment, 128 K segment, 96 K segment for 64 Kbps, 19.2 Kbps, 9.6 Kbps speeds,

respectively in X.25 leased access. The same for X.28 leased line access and

dial-up access are 24 K segment and 8 K segment, respectively.

* Centralized registration with Chief General Manager (CGM) Data Networks for

dialup connections is now permitted.