No roaming charges for MTNL and BSNL users from January 26

Update: Union Minister Kapil Sibal has now confirmed free roaming plans for MTNL users via his Twitter account . The tweet read, “Setting an example for “One Nation, One Rate” - Pleased to announce Free Roaming in Mumbai & Delhi, for MTNL’s GSM customers.” An advertisement in a newspaper also confirms that starting January 26, MTNL users can enjoy free incoming calls from any network, while roaming in Mumbai and Delhi. Last year, around the same time Aircel had announced its “One Nation One Plan” tariff. [caption id=“attachment_216975” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”] Tweet confirming free roaming for MTNL users[/caption]   In another tweet, he now confirms that BSNL will also offer special roaming tariff packs across India. The tweet reads, “To further empower our people and businesses riding the telecom boom, BSNL will now also offer special roaming tariff packs across India.” State-owned telecom firms MTNL and BSNL are likely to launch new roaming plans from January 26 that will offer their subscribers free calls, sources said. “MTNL has plans to make roaming free for its customers on its network in Delhi and Mumbai without any additional charge,” said an official source. He, however,added that BSNL will also have a roaming plan for free calls, but its customers may have to shell out Re 1 a day to avail of the facility.   The schemes are to be in place from January 26. Several private telecom operators already offer plans under which, for a monthly or daily fee starting Rs 5, people get all incoming calls without roaming charges. MTNL has operations in Delhi and Mumbai only, while BSNL has operations across country except in these two circle. MTNL’s Mumbai customers will not have to pay any extra charge when they travel to Delhi, and same scheme will apply for its Delhi customers.   Further details of PSUs plans could not be ascertained. Source said that Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal is likely to announce this scheme within couple of days. “Minister (Sibal) had asked the PSUs in November to come up with free roaming scheme. Though MTNL made it free, BSNL will levy charge so that it can bear cost. Customers availing scheme will enjoy local tariff wherever they travel,” the source said.   As per latest the data released by telecom regulator Trai, 9.78 crore mobile subscribers while MTNL has 35.75 lakh customers on its network.   PTI