End of STD? BSNL brings national rates to local level

New Delhi: In a move that could trigger similar rate cuts from other service providers, Bharat Sanchar Nagar Ltd (BSNL) has brought its national long distance land-line tariffs at par with local land-line calls.  This impacts 32 million subscribers which includes BSNL’s 26.2 million land line subscribers as well as its 5.8 million WLL fixed line subscribers for whom STD calls, which used to cost 80 paise for two minutes, will now cost 80 paise for three minutes, or the same as BSNL’s existing local call rate.  These revised rates will be automatically available to all BSNL fixed line consumers across tariff plans but are not applicable to PCOs and for calls to special services.  This move is expected to dramatically increase the land-line traffic on BSNL’s network and substantially offset some of its losses, though company officials declined to reveal exact estimates.  BSNL’s local call rate is 80 paise for three minutes up to 300 calls, after which it goes up to Re 1 up to a maximum of Rs 1.20.

RBI Deputy Gov post: Delay surprises many

WHILE it is almost certain that Anand Sinha will succeed Usha Thorat as the next deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India, the delay in announcing the appointment has surprised many people in Mint Street. If the appointment is delayed beyond February, Mr Sinha may just miss the bus as he is expected to retire by then. Such appointments, which are for at least a two-year term, are made before the candidate turns 60. In that case, the candidate for the post could be another Executive Director, HR Khan, who was also interviewed for the job.