Trai may give carrier option for STD, ISD

New Delhi, May 7: Telecom regulator Trai on Wednesday initiated a discussion on allowing subscribers of one operator to choose another operator for making long distance calls, a move that would feed competition and improve quality of services.

Trai issued a consultation paper seeking views from all stakeholders on ‘carrier selection’ that includes the possibility of allowing long distance service providers to issue calling cards.

"When carrier selection is implemented, customers can select long distance carrier for their STD/ISD calls. This would help the customer in selecting services provider best suited to their specific needs" Trai said. This is the second time Trai has initiated a process to allow subscribers to choose service providers. Last time, the regulator had consulted the industry in December 2001 but it could not be implemented as state-owned BSNL was not ready to offer such facility.

The main reasons for the non-implementation seem-ed to be the cost of implementation and non-availability of proper billing system with BSNL. To ensure level playing field, Trai had then deferred implementation of carrier selection by all other service providers.

"A number of developme-nts have taken place since the last consultation to make the environment quite different," Trai said. (PTI)

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Idea cuts roaming, STD rate

By OUR CORRESPONDENT

Hyderabad, May 7: Joining the price war initiated by Airtel, Idea Cellular Ltd has slashed STD charges to Rs 1.30 per minute from May 9.

National roaming charges for an incoming call will be Re 1, while local outgoing call charge will be Rs 1 per minute and roaming STD call will be Rs 1.50 per minute. The roaming tariff will be applicable from May 12.

After new companies got DoT licenses to offer mobile phone service, industry majors have slashed their tariffs in an attempt to stay attractive to the customers.

Idea is the fourth telecom player to slash the tariffs after Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications and Vodafone.

In a release, Idea Cellular chief marketing officer, Mr Pradeep Shrivastava, said, "Idea believes in providing subscribers an unparalleled value proposition. The new STD and roaming charges will change the telephony landscape across our country."