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Incoming call free for `Trump' subscribers

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MARCH 22. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) may still be lagging behind its competitors in the Capital's cellular telephony market in terms of subscriber base, but the State-owned company has taken the lead when it comes to announcement of sops for its subscribers.

After making all incoming calls free for its subscribers using its post-paid cellular service - "Dolphin'' -- earlier this month, MTNL has from today also made all incoming calls free for those subscribing to its pre-paid mobile service - "Trump''.

With this, MTNL has taken a firm initiative much before the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) deadline of April 1 when all cellular companies are required to make all incoming calls free. While the private companies have focused their attention on giving more value-added services, MTNL seems keen on making its cellular service cheaper, thus trying to give a stiff competition to its rivals.

While the private companies had not been "really successful'' in keeping to their promises of announcing attractive offers for subscribers on a regular basis, MTNL seems to have taken a cue from them and acted before anybody else could do it.

Moreover, MTNL's "Trump'' connection has an advantage over others in terms of recharge coupon values. In a Rs.300 coupon, the talk value is Rs.200 and the validity period 30 days, while the rival private companies are giving only Rs.150 as talk value for a coupon of similar denomination.

Similarly, for every new "Trump'' connection worth Rs. 345, the company is giving Rs.250 as free talk value, an incentive not provided from any other company.

Besides, MTNL has also slashed activation charges from Rs.735 to Rs.525 in respect of all "Dolphin'' packages, while the security deposit for STD connections has been reduced from Rs.3,000 to Rs.2,500.

MTNL has over one lakh subscribers and another one lakh are to be added in the next few months. These figures are far below the subscriber base of 15 lakhs that the private companies have in the Capital.

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