TRAI Slashes Ceiling Tariffs For National Roaming Calls By 23 % , SMS 75 %

09 April, New Delhi

Telecom regulator TRAI has slashed ceiling tariffs for national roaming calls and SMS and has mandated telecom service providers to offer a special roaming tariff plan.

Roaming calls will be cheaper by up to 23 per cent, while sending SMSes will cost up to 75 per cent less from 1st May.

In a statement Thursday , TRAI said that it has cut the maximum or ceiling rate that a telecom operator can charge for STD calls on roaming to Rs 1.15 per minute from Rs 1.50. Similarly, national SMS rate has been reduced to 38 paise from Rs 1.05 per SMS.

For incoming calls during roaming, a mobile customer will be required to pay a maximum of 45 paise only per minute instead of 75 paise now.

On the other hand, the regulator has removed the roaming tariff plan, under which the consumer paid the same charges as his home circle or service area while in roaming.