MTNL says no to tariff hike

Even as some private telecom service providers have raised tariffs by up to 20%, MTNL today said it would not hike rates for its pre-paid and post-paid services.

"Despite some private players increasing tariff of its pre-paid service, MTNL has decided not to increase its pre-paid and post-paid tariffs," MTNL Executive Director (Wireless Service) AK Bhargava said.

MTNL operates in Mumbai and Delhi circles.

Recently, private telecom operators including Bharti airtel, Vodafone and Idea raised their tariff prices for their pre-paid customers by up to 20%.

Apart from announcing no tariff hike in its pre-paid and post-paid services, MTNL announced other new plans like Home Zone Plan, Friend and Family Plan and Independence Special Plan.

Under the Home Zone Plan, the subscribers would be charged 1 paise per 4 second for own network and the service would be initially launched in Faridabad, Bhargava said.

Under the Friend and Family Plan, subscribers will be able to include five other MTNL frequent calling number (mobile or landline) for just Rs 50 for reducing their call bill up to 10 paise per minute.

"A customer may choose any MTNL basic or mobile number. The Friend and Family Plan facilities may be availed and subscribed through Interactive Voice Response [IVR] or by request to customer care at 1503," he added.

Under the Independence Day Special plan, MTNL would offer limited period edition of Rs 64 and Rs 1,508 top-up coupon with talk value of Rs 64 and Rs 1,947, Bhargava said.

MTNL also announced new and upgraded Value Added Services (VAS) like Percept Knorigin, Mobile Couponing, Digivive, Indiatimes, Techzone, Phone Data Secure, Radius - Mobile Comics, Spice, Talna and Star.

Going further, MTNL also plans to launch more services through tie-ups, like Mobile Talkies from Shemaroo and Mobile WEb Builder from Mobile Akmin.