Processing .....please wait.. 
The article has been forwarded.... 
State-run BSNL slashes overseas phone call tariffs
Tuesday, 21 October 2003, 19:30 IST
NEW DELHI: State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India's largest telephony provider, Monday slashed tariffs of calls to select countries by a whopping 75 percent for a one month period beginning Wednesday.
The telecom giant said it would reduce international long distance charges to Britain, the U.S. and other European countries on the occasion of Diwali, the Indian festivals of lights, that falls on October 25.
The promotional tariff will also be applicable to international long distance calls originating from public call offices, cellular and limited mobility phones, said a BSNL statement issued here.
As per the revised tariff plan, all calls to the U.S., Canada and European countries (except Britain) would now cost just 
9.60 a minute, said the statement.
Currently, BSNL charges 24 a minute in peak hours and 21.18 a minutes in off-peak hours for telephone calls to these countries.
The pulse rate has also been increased to 7.5 seconds, up from three second for peak hours and 3.4 second for off-peak hours.
This would translate into reduced tariffs for customers because the call meter would now change after a longer duration.
Similarly, calls to Britain would now cost 7.20 a minute, down from 24 in peak and 21.18 a minute in off-peak hours.
The pulse rate for calls to Britain has also been increased to 10 seconds, up from three seconds in peak and 3.4 second in off-peak hours.
India, one of the fastest growing telecom markets globally, has seen a sharp decline in phone tariffs in the last couple of years as competition soared with the entry of new players.
The government has set a target of 100 million phone connections by 2005, up from the existing 40 million.
Source: IANS
9.60 a minute, said the statement.
Currently, BSNL charges 24 a minute in peak hours and 21.18 a minutes in off-peak hours for telephone calls to these countries.
The pulse rate has also been increased to 7.5 seconds, up from three second for peak hours and 3.4 second for off-peak hours.
This would translate into reduced tariffs for customers because the call meter would now change after a longer duration.
Similarly, calls to Britain would now cost 7.20 a minute, down from 24 in peak and 21.18 a minute in off-peak hours.
The pulse rate for calls to Britain has also been increased to 10 seconds, up from three seconds in peak and 3.4 second in off-peak hours.
India, one of the fastest growing telecom markets globally, has seen a sharp decline in phone tariffs in the last couple of years as competition soared with the entry of new players.
The government has set a target of 100 million phone connections by 2005, up from the existing 40 million.
Source: IANS