Local calls @ 75 paise/min from BSNL prepaid

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited will introduce SIM-based prepaid CDMA WLL service from August 1 that will further bring down the local call rate to 75 paise a minute.

The SIM based prepaid Tarang WLL mobile service will cost 75 paise within BSNL's own network, while it will cost Rs 1.20 a minute to other networks. For STD, it will cost Rs 1.80 a minute in own network and Rs 2.40 a minute to other networks.

All these calls carry a pulse rate of 60 seconds. The ISD call charges are Rs 7.20 a minute on a 10 seconds pulse to the US, Canada, the UK and Sri Lanka. To Europe, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia, the charges are Rs 9.60 a minute on a 7.5

seconds pulse so is a subscriber calling Kuwait, Bharin, the UAE, Oman and Qatar.

For the rest of the world, it is Rs 12 a minute for a six seconds pulse. BSNL will launch the SIM-based prepaid CDMA WLL service in August in several denominations of recharge coupons like Rs 200 to Rs 1000.

BSNL has 3.5-million CDMA customers as against over 28 million in the GSM space. WLL phone connections using the Code Division Multiple Access technology, offers limited mobility to subscribers within the city.

A separate handset is needed for this service. A WLL mobile connection would be a cheaper option for a subscriber whose movements are only within the city limits.