8-digit phone numbers in Bangalore from Jan

Starting from January 2004, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) would introduce eight-digit numbering scheme in Bangalore Urban area. All existing seven digit numbers, excluding those starting from level 7, will have to be prefixed with '2'.

The telecom major has also slashed its ISD call rates by 50 per cent to a few Asian countries including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, as a festive season offer till January 15, 2004. Call rates to these countries will be charged Rs 12 per minute as against the present rate Rs 24.

Announcing the scheme here, B.R. Baliga, BSNL principal general manager (Bangalore) said, "All technical problems with regard to the eight-digit telephone number have been sorted out and the new scheme would be introduced from the new year."

Baliga also added that landline customers can now get their connection transferred "from anywhere to anywhere and from anybody to anybody's name" in India.

The change to eight-digit numbers is in line with the central decision on telecom services that all BSNL numbers start with 2 , Reliance Telecom with 3 and Touchtel and others with 5.

BSNL has also offered landline customers in Bangalore with a second telephone connection exclusively for accessing the Internet at a monthly charge of Rs 499. This offer will begin from December 15.

Internet charges being extra, customers will also be able to choose their Internet Service Provider, whether it is BSNL or others.

Earlier, BSNL had announced discounted call rates to the UK at Rs 7.20 per minute and to other European countries, USA and Canada at Rs 9.60.

These rates have now been extended till January 15, 2004 as part of the festive offer. Both the offers are valid round the clock with no distinction of peak and off-peak hours.