Telecom operators are ready to reduce Roaming SMS tariff after being warned by Telecom regulator (TRAI) for overcharging. At present, a phone call is cheaper than an SMS for roaming customers, because competition has forced telecom companies to keep call rates low.
When a customer is traveling out of his home network, roaming tariffs apply.For instance, a Vodafone subscriber in Delhi, using the services of his operator, while in Mumbai, he would pay roaming charges.
Most of Telecom operators (except MTNL and BSNL) charge between Rs 2.40 and Rs 2.50 for Roaming SMS with private Telecom Operators Current roaming SMS rates is higher than tariffs for phone calls. From May, maximum charges for an SMS on roaming would be Rs 1.50.However MTNL/BSNL charge just Rs1 for Roaming SMS so it’s not going to impact much.
“We have made it clear to all operators that the current tariff structure for text messages on roaming is not acceptable. We have said that SMSs cannot be priced higher than tariffs for voice calls on roaming. Operators have got the message and have informed us they will reduce SMS tariffs for roaming customers from May 2009,” the telecom regulator TRAI chairman Nripendra Misra told to Media reporters.
