Indian Telecom regulator TRAI today slashed call termination charges by 33 per cent, a move which would result in bringing down the mobile tariffs for consumers.
Termination charges are paid by one operator to another on whose network the call ends.The regulator has reduced the termination charges on local calls to 20 paise a minute from existing 30 paise.
The new operators such as Datacom, Unitech, Shyam-Sistema and Loop Telecom among others were demanding 0-10 paise per minute termination charge whereas the existing GSM operators were opposing any reduction in the charges, fearing there revenue would take a hit.The international calls made overseas to India are going to be costlier as the regulator has increased the termination charge for incoming international call to 40 paise from existing 30 paise per minute.
The regulator said termination charges for third-generation (3G) voice calls would be the same as those for 2G calls.In India, only state-run telecoms BSNL and MTNL have started 3G services. Others are waiting for an auction of 3G spectrum, to be conducted later this year
