Speaking to The Financial Express, the CEO, Hutchison Essar, Mr Sudarshan Banerjee said: "Through these plans we are aiming to redefine the concept of affordability."

Under the first tariff plan known as the Talk 500 the customer can avail of airtime charges of Rs 1.50 per minute for incoming and Rs 2.65 per minute for outgoing calls if she makes a commitment value of Rs 500.

The other tariff plan, Talk 1000, conceives of a commitment of Rs 1000 for airtime charges of Rs 1.25 per minute for incoming and Rs 2.25 per minute for outgoing calls.

Both the tariff plans come with the usual rentals of Rs 395 and two time bound add-on services - Talkathon and Nightspeak. With the option of Talkathon, the Talk 500 or Talk 1000 customer can at a monthly subscription of Rs 99 speak to two or three numbers for an unlimited and free airtime.

For example, says Mr Banerjee: ``A child in school can be reached by the parent, for free, through the second number.''

Similarly, with the option of Nightspeak, at a monthly subscription of Rs 49 per month, the customer can between 11 pm and 8 am avail of a rate if Rs 0.50 per minute for incoming as well as outgoing call.

Mr Banerjee said: "These are among the lowest rates in the world. Although a somewhat similar tariff plan already exists in Mumbai, this is the first time that such a plan has been introduced in Delhi." With these tariff packages, the company hopes to tap users such as exporters who "need to talk frequently and extensively."

Though Mr Banerjee said that the tariff plans are bound to attract both existing as well as new customers, an industry observer added: "Such tariff plans are more likely to impact high-end seasoned users rather than fresh customers, who are still marginal users."

Meanwhile, Hutchison Essar's competitor in Delhi is likely to come out with its own tariff options shortly. Said Mr Sanjay Kapoor, CEO, Airtel: "We are looking at a segmented approach to tariffs and we will come out with packages which mean overall value addition to the user."

Following the recent drop in tariff rates, Hutchison Essar, according to Mr Banerjee has seen its subscriber base doubling. He added: "This year we will consolidate our relationship with our customers and the new tariff plans are a part of the whole process. By March next year, we see a further doubling of our subscriber base in the four circles that we are present in to 400,000." Hutchison also has a presence in the circles of Mumbai, Calcutta and Gujarat.