Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) reduced Roaming charges for calls,SMSs

Telecom regulator TRAI on 17 June 2013 announced reduction in the national mobile phone roaming charges which will come into effect 1 July 2013.

TRAI has also come out with conditional a free national roaming plan that is aimed at bringing down cellphone roaming charges.

Highlights of the new Charges as Levied by TRAI

• TRAI has reduced ceilings for national roaming calls and SMS and instituted a new regime for providing flexibility to telecom service providers to customise tariffs for national roamers through STVs (Special Tariff Vouchers) and Combo Vouchers.
• It has also mandated two types of free national roaming plans to be provided by all telecom service providers.
• The ceiling tariffs prescribed by TRAI in 2007 were 1.40 Rupees per minute for outgoing local calls and 2.40 Rupees per minute for outgoing STD calls while on national roaming.
• Ceilings have been reduced t 1 Rupee  per minute and Re 1.50 per minute, respectively.
• Similarly, the ceiling tariffs for incoming calls while on national roaming have been reduced from 1.75 Rupees per minute to 75 paise per minute.
• Tariffs for outgoing SMS while on national roaming, which were earlier under forbearance, have now been capped: outgoing SMS (local) a 1 Rupee per SMS and outgoing SMS (STD) at 1.50 Rupees per SMS. Incoming SMS will remain free of charge.
• Tariffs for outgoing SMS while on national roaming, which were earlier under forbearance, have now been capped: outgoing SMS (local) at 1 Rupee per SMS and outgoing SMS (STD) at 1.50 Rupees per SMS. Incoming SMS will remain free of charge.