Under the new tariff regime, Trai has for the first time implemented a differential standard tariff regime for circle and metro users.

As such, users in metros will pay Rs 4 for the first minute of outgoing calls and Rs 2 thereafter for every 30 seconds, while the monthly rental will be Rs 475. In the case of circles, users will pay Rs 4.50 for the first minute and Rs 2.25 for every additional 30 seconds. The new tariffs are a re-adjustment of the August 31, proposal of Rs 4 per minute airtime and Rs 475 monthly rental, a reduction opposed by all service providers. At present, the standard tariffs are Rs 6 per minute with a monthly rental of Rs 600 irrespective of territory. The above rates will be coupled with the much-awaited implementation of the calling party pays (CPP) from November 1.

Monthly rentals havealso been differentiated with Rs 475 for metro users and Rs 500 for circle subscribers.

As a result of the CPP, local calls from a fixed line to a cellular mobile will now be charged at a double pulse rate for the first 60 seconds and thereafter for every 60 seconds. As per the tariff order, the amount charged for an one minute call from a fixed phone to a cellular phone will be Rs 2.40 up to 60 seconds, based on a per metered call rate of Rs 1.20. For 60 seconds and above but less than two minutes, the charge will be Rs 3.60 and beyond that for up to three minutes the charge will be Rs 4.80. In areas where the local call rate is Rs 0.80, a mobile call will be charged at Rs 1.60 for up to 60 seconds, at Rs 2.40 for two minutes and Rs 3.20 for three minutes. For areas where the local call rate is Rs 1.00, the caller will be billed at the rate of Rs 2 for up to 60 seconds, Rs 3 and Rs 4 for two and three minutes. From these call charges earned by fixed phone operators like DoT/ MTNL, termination charges of Rs1.60 will have to be passed on to the cell phone operator for a 60 second call and 80 paise for each minute thereafter.

Announcing the new tariffs, Trai chairman justice SS Sodhi said the authority would also introduce "universal access levy" and access charges in due course of time and added that these ad-interim tariffs would encourage use of cellular mobile phones in the country.

Trai also indicated that these ad-interim tariffs would be revisited after some time.

"An important objective of the telecom tariff mechanism is to encourage usage and a CPP regime for cellular mobile would contribute in a major way towards this, Sodhi added.

Trai on Friday also cleared Mahnagar Telephone Nigam's (MTNL) tariff proposals for offering basic telephone services using wireless in local loop (WLL) technology. The move came four days after MTNL submitted its proposed tariffs for basic service using WLL technology, Sodhi said. Under the telecommunications tariff order (TTO) 1999, the standard tariff applicable tobasic service using the code division multiple access technology will be the the same as normal PSTN basic service. However, this is not a clearance to MTNL plans to provide 2,500 "limited mobility" telephone connections.

Trai member NS Ramamchandran clarified that MTNL was yet to clarify some queries on this proposal as demanded by the regulator. On the recent decision of the Telecom Commission to make cellular telephony "technology neutral", a Trai member said.