Mobile phone users in India who travel a lot will finally be relieved now. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reduced ceiling tariffs for national roaming service from May 1 and directed telecom companies to offer special roaming tariff plan from the same date. The latest diktat isn’t only about tariffs, it also covers the problem of number portability when moving around the country. By 3 May, the telecom companies will have to provide their subscribers with the ability to port or move to another network provider without having to change their mobile number, even if the subscriber moves to another circle. So, it’s double delight for cellphone users in India.
According to the reduced tariff outgoing local voice call on roaming will cost Re 0.80/minute while incoming local call charges on roaming will be Re 0.45/minute. Outgoing local SMS on national roaming will now cost 25 paise per SMS from the present Re 1. At present, outgoing voice call and SMS on national roaming costs Re 1/minute while incoming voice call is Re 0.75/minute.
Outgoing long distance (inter-circle) call while on national roaming will be Rs 1.15/minute from the existing Rs 1.50/minute. Outgoing long distance (inter-circle) SMS while on national roaming will be Re 0.38 per SMS from the existing Rs 1.50 per SMS.
Sameer