Cell rates got 37% cheaper since '04

Mobile local call tariffs have registered a 37 per cent decline to touch Rs 1.20 per minute for the quarter-ended September 2005, against Rs 1.90 at the end of September 2004.

Tariffs for fixed line local calls witnessed a 15 per cent drop during the same period to touch 85 paise in September 2005, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India said today.

As per the Trai report, the gross subscriber base of the fixed and mobile services together reached 113.07 million for the quarter ended September, 2005 as against 104.22 million on June, 2005, registering an increase of around 8.49 per cent. Mobile subscriber base rose over 30 per cent at the end of September 2005, compared with September last year.

The last quarter also saw the country's tele-density move into double figures to touch 10.36 for the quarter ending September 2005, compared with 9.61 in the previous quarter. The overall tele-density growth for the year was 28.03 per cent.

The report has also highlights that the annual tariffs for domestic leased circuits has reduced by up to 70 per cent, on account of the lowering of the ceiling price by the regulator.