Incoming cellphone calls to be free from Aug 1

The decision is in line with the promise in the telecom tariff order passed by the authority on March 9 that the calling party pays (CPP) regime will be implemented by a separate notification later.

This means for any calls from a fixed line or a mobilephone, the receiving party need not pay the airtime charges once the notification comes into effect. As per the telecom tariff order of the authority which came into effect from May 1, mobile phone users have to pay a minimum of Rs 6 per minute during standard hours for making as well as receiving calls with the handset.

Although airtime charge hascome down from Rs 16 to Rs 6, the rental which was just Rs 156 per month has gone up to Rs 600 per month by the TRAI order. There have been demands from various sections of the industry and phone users to make the incoming calls free since this has been the pattern in most parts of the world, although the authority had not taken any firm decision till recently.

Although many countries have initially opted for charging both called and calling party for airtime, they switched over the CPP regime later. Cellular companies are upbeat over the decision of the authority. Operators are expecting the usage of mobile phones to go up consequent to the TRAI decision. "It will certainly make cell phones more viable," a senior official of a Delhi-based operator said.

He said this would also increase the subscriber base of cell phone companies throughout the country in a few months of implementation of the notification. Although the companies may lose some quantum of revenue in the beginning, considering the growth insubscriber base and usage pattern, the cellular companies would stand to benefit, he added.

The free of cost incoming calls will also help do away with the tendency of cell users to keep their phone `switched off’ to avoid unwanted calls and wrong numbers since it would add on to the receiving party’s bill.

Sources at the Cellular Association of India (COAI) said many companies are gearing up to take advantage of the notification which is expected any time now. Soon after the notification, companies are drafting new promotional campaigns and advertisement series.