Tariff down 35%, 1.85cr more cell users in FY05

Mobile tariffs in India are now the cheapest in the world with rates falling 35% in the last fiscal while the subscriber base swelled to 5.21 crore from 3.36 crore - an addition of 1.85 crore new users in 2004-05.

The minimum effective per minute charge for local outgoing calls for post-paid mobile service has come down from Rs 1.90 in March 2004 to Rs 1.20 in March 2005 - a decline of 35%, Trai said in a review of the sector today.

STD charges for distance beyond 200 kms have been reduced by 33% to Rs 2.40 per minute from Rs 3.60 per minute, Trai said.

ILD charges have also come down due to certain promotional tariff plans of international long distance operators as well as reduced ADC. Calls to US, Canada and Europe cost in the range of Rs 7.20-9.60 per minute during the previous year - a decline of 2%.