Tata Tele offers STD calls cheaper than local calls at 30p/min

Intensifying the ongoing tariff war, Tata Teleservices on Thursday announced half a paise per second tariff for domestic long distance (STD) calls for its CDMA prepaid users, making it cheaper than locals calls.

Tata Tele, which is credited for launching the per second billing model in the country, has launched the 'Ulta Plan' for its Tata Indicom (its CDMA offering) users under which the users can make STD calls for 30 paise a minute. But local calls will be charged at 50 paise per minute.

"The offer cuts through the clutter and offers a competitive tariff that makes STD calls cheaper than local calls. The plan will be extremely suitable for heavy STD users, providing maximum value and calling benefits," Tata Tele regional head (North-Central) Vineet Bhatia said.

The company, which added about 2.3 million subscribers in June, expects to add 30 per cent more subscribers with the launch of this plan.

Tata Tele, which offers the CDMA services under Tata Indicom and GSM services under Tata Docomo brand, said the Ulta Plan will be available on its CDMA platform only for the time being. Potential prepaid subscribers can avail of the benefits of the plan by recharging their number with the first recharge vouchers available for Rs 58 and Rs 104.

Users can make STD calls at 30 paise a minute for three months from the date of recharge for the first 600 minutes per month, after which STD calls will be charged at 50 paise per minute. Furthermore, SMSs would be offered at a special price of 50 paise for both national and local messages.

Existing subscribers can also avail of this benefit for the first 600 minutes by recharging with Ulta Plan special tariff vouchers available at Rs 26.