Reliance Communications increases SMS rates

Reliance Communications will increase its SMS prices from June 20. National SMS rates will be hiked to Rs 2 and international to Rs 5, while the local rates remain unchanged.

The hike is based on an average calculation as the hike is not affected across the board as this varies from packages to packages. Reliance officials confirmed the price hike, but declined to spell out the details.

The company has started sending SMS to subscribers informing them of the hike. This could be the first time that the company is increasing the prices of value added services (VAS), as conventionally Reliance Communications (formerly Reliance Infocomm) was keen on reducing the prices, an industry source told Business Standard here today.

Industry sources were of opinion that the local rates were not hiked as the company did not intend to tax common users. The company is rationalising its SMS tariffs, as they are on the lower side compared with that of competitors.

At present, the company levies a varied rate ranging from one paisa to Re 1 for national SMS, depending on the user's plans.

Reliance Communications lowest SMS rate stands at Re 1, which is much lower than the average rate of Rs 2 for national and Rs 5 for international SMSes levied by other operators.