Hutch slashes local call to Rs 0.99/minute

The tariff war triggered by code division multiple assess player Reliance Infocomm has spread to the global system for mobile telephony turf.

The latest to join the war is Hutchison Essar which slashed its tariffs for pre-paid users on Thursday by offering a promotional flat rate of Rs 0.99 per minute for local calls made to any mobile phone and Rs 2.25 a minute to calls made anywhere in the country.

Three days back Bharti had lowered its tariffs by almost 30 per cent at Re 1 per minute for calls made to Airtel customers.

BPL Mobile is the only player which is yet to announce new tariffs for pre-paid customers.

Airtel reduced the rates of local calls to fixed line and to any other mobile phone by 25 per cent. Local calls made to fixed line are now charged at Rs 2.25 per minute whereas STD calls are charged at Rs 3.25 per minute. The STD calls made among Airtel network are charged Rs 2 per minute.

As part of its 'Independence day special' offering, Reliance Infocomm cut tariff for local calls for its pre-paid customers by 60 per cent to Rs 0.99 per minute and STD calls by 28.11 per cent to Rs 1.79 per minute.

A BPL Mobile spokesperson said: "As a dominant player in the prepaid segment, BPL Mobile is committed to delivering the best value through the most competitive tariffs and an exciting basket of products and services. BPL Mobile will ensure that Mots (prepaid) subscribers continue to enjoy the best tariffs in the marketplace. Our new tariffs on mots (pre-paid) will be announced shortly."

Harit Nagpal, chief marketing officer, Hutch, said: "We have simplified the prepaid tariff structure by introducing a flat outgoing rate to any local mobile phone. We are also increasing the affordability of a mobile pre-paid connection when compared to fixed line rates. This is a good opportunity for fixed line phone owners to become first-time mobile users."

Hutch pre-paid users can avail of the new tariffs by sending an SMS 'Act 99' or 'Act STD'. Users opting for the new tariff will be charged a monthly fee of Rs 25 for each subscription.

Hutch users not opting for this promotional offer will continue at lower rates Rs 1.99 per minute for all local calls compared with the existing rate of Rs 2.75 per minute.