India´s state-owned telephone operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has reduced call rates to Nepal by 35 percent.
According to a Press Trust of India (PTI) report, BSNL has launched a special tariff voucher (STV) which allows people to call Nepal at IRs 6.50 paisa per minute against a normal rate of IRs 10 per minute. The current tariff is down by 35 percent.
Average call tariff from Nepal to India hover around Rs 4 per minute. Similarly, average call tariff from India to Nepal hovered around Rs 16 per minute before BSNL reduced the tariff. Indian operators Airtel and Vodafone charge Rs 12 per minute.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra, after his Nepal visit, had requested the Department of Telecom (DoT) to reduce call tariffs to Nepal. Following Modi´s request, DoT had held a meeting with telecom operations. But, according to PTI, operators had complained that Nepal charges very high termination rates for their calls which result to high tariffs.
"We had been pressing BSNL to reduce call tariff to Nepal since long as the tariff is three times higher compared to price that Nepali operators charge to call India," Guna Keshari Pradhan, spokesperson of NTC, said. "Now Nepalis living in India can call their friends and families at cheaper rate."
According to PTI, BSNL makes a profit of 50 paisa on each call as the remaining amount goes into paying taxes, termination charges, spectrum fees, and so on.
BSNL is also planning to launch STV´s for other SAARC countries in the near future.
