Cell-to-cell incoming free

NEW DELHI: The cellular industry has announced free incoming calls for GSM mobile subscribers, made from any other GSM mobile subscriber. This applies to both prepaid and postpaid customers.

This cellular industry have claimed that they can equal and even surpass WLL low tariffs, provided they operate on a level playing field. The cell companies now seem to be confident that their request for identical license conditions and terms with regards to entry fee, interconnection and other issues would be adequately addressed. This announcement was triggered by the assurance of an imminent ruling by the TRAI, of a just and fair Interconnect Usage Charge regime (IUC).

The cellular industry is in the process of upgrading its networks and billing systems to ensure a smooth transition to the new system of M2M incoming free. This process could take up to a week in some service areas. Hence the date of launch in different markets would be communicated individually by respective operator.

WLL (M) is on a 'Calling Party Pays' regime as far as calls from cellular mobile to WLL (M) subscribers are concerned. In fact, the major difference of tariffs between WLL (M) and GSM mobile was on account of the entry fee differential, where the cellular industry has paid approx. Rs.9,000 crores as compared to fixed line operators, who have been allowed within their FSP license to provide WLL (M) services, free - without having to pay any entry fee for offering mobility.