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SIM card scarcity delayed MTNL cellular service

NetScribes/Sunil Joshi

It was the delay in getting SIM cards that forced MTNL to postpone it cellular services in Delhi, say reliable company sources.

The telephony major's cellular foray will now happen on February 15. The original date was January 26.

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd's Delhi cellular service was oversubscribed with 100,000 applicants waiting for the service to kick off.

The ridiculously low tariffs MTNL had set for its Delhi service -- Rs 2.70 for outgoing and Rs 1.50 for incoming calls -- had forced rivals Essar and AirTel to announce tariff cuts.

From Rs 4 for both kinds of calls, Essar and AirTel reduced their outgoing and incoming call charges to Rs 2.80 and Rs 1.60, respectively.

Despite the Delhi hiccup, MTNL Bombay expects its cellular services launch in the metropolis to be on schedule.

"We will commence cellular services in Bombay on February 28. Registrations begin on February 15 through Quick Customer Service centres," said Assistant General Manager-MTNL Bombay, B R Nakashe.

The airtime tariff has been fixed at Rs 2.70 for outgoing calls and Rs 1.50 for incoming calls.

Bombay cellular operators BPL and Orange charge, on an average, Rs 3.25 for both incoming and outgoing calls.

"Despite the fact that MTNL has to yet begin cellular services - either in Delhi or Bombay - we will revise our tariffs," said a senior BPL Mobile-Bombay official.

MTNL has also pegged its other services lower. The Caller Line Identification Presentation (CLIP) and the Itemised billing features will come at Rs 50 each per month.

Bombay's other cellular operators BPL and Orange charge Rs 75 for these services.

Senior MTNL officials refused to comment on the reasons behind the delay in the launch of the Delhi service.

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