Mumbai: Vodafone India and Idea has slashed its national roaming rates by up to 75 per cent and 40 per cent with effect from May 1, days after telecom regulator TRAI reduced the ceiling tariffs. For a local text while on roaming, users will pay 25 paise as compared to Re 1; and for STD texts, 38 paise from Rs 1.50 earlier in accordance with the Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI) guidelines, Vodafone India said in a statement. Vodafone India customers will pay 45 paise/minute instead of the earlier 75 paise/minute for receiving calls outside their home network, a reduction of 40 per cent.
Similarly, outgoing local and STD calls will be charged at 80 paise and Rs 1.15 paise per minute as compared to Re 1 and Rs 1.50, respectively. Besides, Vodafone has introduced special roaming tariff plans for its prepaid and postpaid customers. At present, Vodafone India offers incoming free packs for prepaid and postpaid customers, under which incoming voice calls on national roaming are free on payment of fixed charge.
The same has also been revised.TRAI earlier this month 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 1.5 per SMS. Also, an operator can charge a maximum of 25 paise only for a local SMS instead of the current Re 1 per SMS.
Idea Cellular has also announced reduction in national roaming tariff by upto 40 per cent with effect from May 1, days after telecom regulator TRAI reduced the ceiling tariffs. Idea will now charge incoming calls at 45 paise/minute, a reduction of 40 per cent, while roaming anywhere in India, a company statement said here. Outgoing local call rates have also been reduced by 20 per cent and STD call rates by 23 per cent. Local SMS will now cost 25 paise and STD SMS 38 paise, on roaming nationally. The revised tariff will be applicable starting May 1 for all Idea prepaid and postpaid users across the country.
Additionally, Airtel has also joined the race by making its local SMS cheaper up to 75 per cent. Airtel’s inter-circle SMSs will cost up to 74 per cent less.The incoming call rates has also been reduced by 40 per cent
