Airtel launches 'free' incoming national roaming packs, others expected to follow suit

Airtel has launched 'free' incoming national roaming packs for its pre-paid subscribers.

The first pack costs Rs. 5 and gives customers free incoming calls on national roaming for a day. Outgoing calls while roaming within the country are charged at 1.5 paise per second. All other call rates remain the same as per your existing plan.

The second plan costs Rs. 79 and gives customers free incoming calls on national roaming for a period of 30 days. Outgoing calls while roaming within the country, as well as your regular outgoing calls in your home circle, will be charged at 1.5 paise per second. All other call rates remain the same as per your existing plan.

The move follows TRAI's recommendation to operators to introduce free conditional national roaming plans and reduce SMS tariffs.

"TRAI has reduced ceilings for national roaming calls and SMS and instituted a new regime for providing flexibility to telecom service providers to customise tariffs for national roamers through STVs (Special Tariff Vouchers) and Combo Vouchers," the regulator said in a statement.

"With increased subscribers and usage, the costs associated with national roaming have declined, but not vanished. There are still real costs incurred in providing the national roaming facility. Mandating a fully free roaming regime is simply not practicable at this juncture. Compelling a transition to a fully free national roaming regime would result in telecom service providers not being able to recover their costs from roamers," the regulator said.

With Airtel making the first move, other operators are expected to follow suit in the coming days.