Date:05/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/07/05/stories/2005070502980300.htm

Back Idea unveils cell-to-cell STD calls at 99 paise

Our Bureau

New Delhi , July 4

IDEA Cellular Ltd today announced a tariff of 99 paise per minute for cell-to-cell STD calls made by its subscribers in Delhi.

The tariff will be applicable for calls made to any private GSM mobile network.Idea subscribers will have to pay Rs 2.75 per minute for long-distance calls made to subscribers of BSNL, MTNL, and CDMA-based operators.

The tariffs announced today will be applicable irrespective of the distance or the time of the call.

The offer, which will come into effect from July 6, is primarily for pre-paid card users but will be applicable to all post-paid subscribers on the new Idea India plans, a company statement said.

Idea-to-Idea local calls will be charged at 75 paise per minute. Local SMS will cost Re 1 compared to Rs 1.50 currently.

The 99-paise-a-minute offer is one of the lowest in the country and comes despite the fact that Idea Cellular does not have its own long-distance network.

The company rides on the networks of operators such as Bharti and VSNL for routing its NLD traffic.