India's telecom tariffs lowest in the world: Survey

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) The telecom tariffs, which were highest in the world four years back, have now dipped to being among the lowest as a result of rapid growth in telephones in the country.

The National Long Distance (NLD) tariffs that ranged between Rs 1.20 and Rs 4.80 per minute in 2003 for different distances are now as low as Re one per minute, the Economic Survey placed in Parliament said today.

Similarly, tariffs for International Long Distance (ILD) have shown a significant decline. For instance tariffs rates for an ILD call were Rs 7.20 per minute from the UK, Rs 9.60 per minute for Europe (other than the UK), to the US and Canada and Rs 24 per minute for some of the West Asian countries in 2003.

From November 1, 2006 the tariffs have declined to Rs six per minute for the UK, the US and Canada and Rs eight per minute for Eurpe (other than the UK) and West Asian countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman and Qatar.

UNI RT SR DS1346