(Correcting figures in para three)

New Delhi, Apr 25 (UNI) India will acheive a subscriber base of 250 million ''prematurely'' within the next three to four months of the calendar year 2007, Minister for Communication and IT Dayanidhi Maran said today.

The total telephony subscriber base (wireless and wireline) stands at 206.83 million at the end of the fiscal, with an annual addition 66.51 million subscribers during-fiscal 2006-07.

In line with the set target, 8,000 towers will be installed in rural areas by the USO Fund tapping 50 million subscribers in this calendar year, from rural areas alone, Mr Maran told reporters here.

''We will set up 10,000 towers in rural areas by 2009-10 and have asked the USO administration to come out with a plan for fibre to village (FTV),'' he said adding that fibre will play an important role in the years to come.

Domestic roaming charges will come down heavily as compared to local charges in the next two years, the minister said.

A penalty of Rs 1,000 per subscriber will be imposed on the telecom operators for non-verification of customer's identity, the process for which has already begun.

Talking about broadband, Mr Maran said nine million connections will be rolled out by the year-end of which seven million will be contributed by BSNL and MTNL.

A 42.5 mhz spectrum will be available by July while the 3G spectrum plan is in process, he said. ''3G is not an extension of 2G.'' UNI