The TRAI has finally announced, officially,
the implementation of Calling Party Regime (CPP) for cellphone service
from November 1, 1999. The new interim tariff structure makes incoming
calls free, reduces outgoing call rates to Rs 4 per minute for metros and
Rs 4.50 per minute for circles. Monthly rental has also been reduced to Rs
475 for metros and Rs 500 for the circles. The difference in the tariffs
between circles and metros is due to the difference in the inherent cost
of establishing the two networks.
Calls originating from the basic phone to cellphone will be charged
almost twice the call charges for a call to another basic phone. A basic
service operator will have to pay terminating charges to a cellular
network. The termination charges have been fixed at Rs 1.60 for up to 60
seconds and Rs 0.80 for every 60 seconds thereafter.
However, TRAI Chairman S.S. Sodhi made it clear that these tariffs are
based on the interim revenue sharing of 15 percent. And if there is any
change in revenue sharing percentage, the tariffs will change accordingly.
Tariff for |
|||
Duration of call from PSTN |
Rs 0.80 per metered call |
Rs 1 per metered call |
Rs 1.20 per metered |
Upto 60 sec | Rs 1.60 | Rs 2.00 | Rs 2.40 |
60 sec or > but < 2 minute |
Rs 2.40 | Rs 3.00 | Rs 3.60 |
2 minutes or > but < 3 minute |
Rs 3.20 | Rs4.00 | Rs 4.80 |