Rel Comm slashes roaming rates by 70%

Reliance Communications has come up with new roaming packages and slashed roaming rates across the country by as much as 70 per cent.

Announcing the new initiative, S P Shukla, president -- personal business, Reliance Communications, said that after the slew of initiatives launched by the company this month to 'make people mobile', the special roaming packages would aim to 'keep people mobile'. These offers will be open to public subscription from Tuesday.

Under the new schemes, for users of the Postpaid India One plan, all calls while on roaming will be charged at Re 1 per minute, whereas for subscribers of Pre-paid India One recharge packs, the roaming rate for all 'on-net' (Reliance to Reliance) calls will be 40 paise per minute, incoming calls at 40 paise per minute and all STD calls at Re 1 per minute.

Reliance Communications has also announced new packages keeping in mind those who are constantly on the move. All calls within the country will be charged at Rs 1.20 per minute for subscribers of Rs 520 recharge value packs, in addition to full talk time value.

For those subscribing to Rs 770 recharge value packs, all calls within the person's resident state will be at 80 paise per minute while all inter-circle calls will be charged at Rs 1.20 per minute.

Asked about the possible revenues losses that might arise from slashing of roaming rates, Shukla said, "From our experience, we have seen that whenever we slash some rates, there is increase in traffic volumes, which make up for losses.