The ongoing tariff war amongst the mobile operators, which has led to further decline in the already rock-bottom tariffs, has caught the attention of even the government departments.
The first to take note of the development is the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which wants to make the best of the rate wars.
It has asked the operators for fresh quotations by enumerating its requirements in terms of mobile connections and bouquet of offerings.
Currently, the PMO uses Bharti Airtel, which is the country’s largest mobile operator, connections for its staffers.
However, in a letter to Reliance Communications, the country’s second largest mobile operator, the PMO has written, “In view of the recent drastic change in the telecom tariff, it has been decided to explore the option of the best available plan in offer, specific to the requirements of the PMO”.
The PMO requires 50 GSM connections with ISD and STD facility, 25 numbers with Blackberry compatible services, special number series, national international roaming (on select numbers). It also requires internal building solution system for uninterrupted signal.
The letter emphasises that the tariff plans offered must have special emphasis on the ISD, STD tariff rates and the roaming charges, and should be submitted by January 15.
Tata DoCoMo ?the GSM arm of the country’s sixth largest telecom operator, Tata Teleservices ?in April initiated a tariff war in the country by launching the per second billing.
Consequently, the company has been adding the highest number of subscribers each month. Later all other telecom operators joined the tariff war. This offering was then extended to roaming as well.