STD & ISD calls will cheaper
March 21, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) announced that the component of Access Deficit Charge (ADC) is applicable for the financial year 2007-08. The STD and ISD calls are set to become cheaper with TRAI slashing the Access Deficit Charge (ADC) paid by the private operators to BSNL.
The amended regulations will be effective from 1sr April, 2007 till 31st March 2008. Trai has completely abolished the ADC on outgoing international long distance calls (ILD). Earlier ADC on out going ILD was Rs.0.80 per minute. The ADC on incoming ILD calls have been reduced to Re.1 per minute from existing Rs.1.60 per minute.
The total amount of ADC has been reduced by TRAI, for the financial year 2007-08 to Rs 2,000 crores from existing level of Rs 3,200 crores. The ADC on percentage revenue share has been reduced to 0.75 percent from existing 1.50 percent of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) of all service providers (access providers) national long distance operators and international long distance operators.
A senior Trai official told that the regulator expects the service providers to fully pass on to the consumers the reductions in ADC. It seems that the telecom services providers are ready to pass on the reduction in the ADC and reduce ISD and STD charges.
Mr.Manoj Kohli, president of Bharti Airtel told that Airtel wwould pass on the benefits of ADC reduction to the customers and would consider reducing STD and ISD charges. All private operators pay ADC to BSNL for carrying out social obligations like providing services in rural areas.
