BSNL offers ISD calls at Rs 1.75/min

New Delhi, Nov 23: State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) today said it has slashed its international call charges to the US and Canada by over 300 per cent at Rs 1.75 per minute from Rs 7.20 on its 'CallNow' cards.

The cards, available in various denominations ranging from Rs 100, Rs 300, Rs 500, Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000, allow BSNL and MTNL subscribers to make much cheaper ISD calls to the US and Canada.

''For select important countries like France, Russia, the UK, South East Asia, the rates vary from a minimum of Rs 3.25 per minute to a maximum of Rs 4 a minute, subject to denomination value of CallNow cards,'' BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Kuldeep Goel told reporters at the launch of its free message service here.

He said CallNow card allows BSNL to BSNL/MTNL and vice versa calls at Re 1 per minute and to other operators at a maximum of Rs two a minute.

BSNL has tied up with Indiatimes for launching Free Messaging Service (FMS) under which, instead of the sender, the receiver of SMS would be charged.

''We are committed to provide value added servies to our customers and this FMS is a positive step in this direction,'' Mr Goel said.

The receiver would be charged Re 1, if both sender and receiver are in the same BSNL circle and Rs 2 in case of inter circle.

UNI