MTNL cuts net rates by 30%

New Delhi, June 10: Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) has announced up to 30 per cent cut in internet tariffs and said it proposed to i...

New Delhi, June 10: Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) has announced up to 30 per cent cut in internet tariffs and said it proposed to increase the pulse rate of local call from three minutes now to five minutes.

"We have brought down internet tariffs ranging from 20 to 30 per cent in different categories. The proposed changes would be sent to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday," S Sundresan, Director (Finance), MTNL, told PTI.

The new tariffs would be operational only from June 19 as minimum period of five days notice has be given to TRAI, Sundresan said. Last week Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) had also announced 50 per cent cut in the internet tariffs under monsoon package’ while offering free access during night hours.

MTNL is also proposing to increase the pulse rate of local calls from present three minutes to five minutes, he said, adding "for this we need Department of Telecommunication’s (DOT) approval." MTNL would soon approach DOT for this but no time frame has been fixed to effect these changes.

Sundresan also said that the department would market the internet in a big way.