Arun 795 Report post Posted January 28, 2007 Times News Network Monday, January 29, 2007 01:53:58 AM Telecom tariffs are set to fall from April 1 this year, as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is likely to reduce the access deficit charge (ADC) levy to around Rs 1,600-2,000 crore for 2007-08, from the current Rs 3,335 crore. More importantly, Trai, when announcing the new regime in March, will also state that the next fiscal (2007-08) will be the last year when subscribers would be subject to this levy. Simply put, this implies, there will be no ADC levies from April 1, 2008. The new ADC regime will be effective from April 1, the exact quantum of the reduction will be finalised only after consultations between the operators, and the regulator, which is slated to take place over the next two months, Trai sources told ET. Following the consultation process, the regulator will announce the details of the new ADC regime for 2007-08 in March, the sources added. In the past, all ADC cuts by Trai have resulted in reductions in domestic (STD) tariffs and also in both incoming and outgoing international calls, as operators have passed on the benefits to the subscribers. Any move to reduce ADC further, however, will be strongly opposed by BSNL. ADC is the levy paid by all telecom operators to BSNL and this allows the PSU to subsidise its rural operations and fulfil its social obligations. At present, all operators pay 1.5% of their annual aggregate gross revenues (AGR) to BSNL as ADC. In addition to this, BSNL also earns an ADC of Rs 1.60 per minute for all incoming international calls to India and Rs 0.80 per minute for every outgoing ISD call. Last year, Trai had fixed the ADC at Rs 3,335 crore for 2006-07, from Rs 5,340 crore the previous year, and the move enabled all operators, including BSNL, to reduce long-distance tariffs and implement OneIndia call rates that is STD at Re 1. At the same time, Trai had also done away with the per minute ADC for domestic calls and instead stipulated that operators pay 1.5% of their AGR towards this levy. Commenting on logic behind the abolition of the ADC regime from 2008-09, a Trai official said, “This is as per the Trai roadmap. If BSNL needs subsidy from April 2008, it will only be from the universal service obligation fund. The ADC regime cannot continue in perpetuity.” All operators pay 5% of their AGR towards the USO fund, which is used to support rural telephony. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Honest 836 Report post Posted January 28, 2007 Thats nice my dear friends. Another good news from TRAI. Lets wait till 1st April and enjoy lower tariffs. Cheers ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nirvana 4 Report post Posted January 29, 2007 Hope TRAI isn't trying to make an April Fool out of us as its scheduled on the 1st of April ! lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kunal Hemrajani 1 Report post Posted January 29, 2007 Yipeeeeeeeeeeee.... wat mor shud i say.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
abhay 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2007 well if NO ADC then bye bye limited and hello unlimited packages Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jiss Abraham 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2007 WOW WOW Another good news from TRAI. Lets wait till 1st April and enjoy lower tariffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linuxguy 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2007 I am 100% sure it is a April fools joke! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
@ksh@T 20 Report post Posted January 31, 2007 agreed linuxbhai..........not in rim as fa as posssible Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
copperco2 24 Report post Posted January 31, 2007 same operator calls will always be cheaper. who knows if your operator may want to charge you more for calling any other network than his. ADC or no ADC differential pricing will always be there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
abhay 0 Report post Posted February 1, 2007 (edited) same operator calls will always be cheaper. who knows if your operator may want to charge you more for calling any other network than his. ADC or no ADC differential pricing will always be there. well i dont think it will be possible in a competitive market like india Edited February 1, 2007 by abhay Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
copperco2 24 Report post Posted February 2, 2007 same operator calls will always be cheaper. who knows if your operator may want to charge you more for calling any other network than his. ADC or no ADC differential pricing will always be there. well i dont think it will be possible in a competitive market like india the buzzword is captive consumer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
