As part of the Good Governance Day on December 25, the government is announcing new tariff plans for MTNL customers which will allow them to make calls to one pre-selected number at 20 paisa per minute.

“Under this plan, customers of MTNL can pair a mobile or landline number to which they can avail a benefit of 20 paisa per minute; 40 paisa per minute to other landline numbers and 50 paisa per minute for STD calls,” a senior official from Department of Telecom, told BusinessLine .

New plans

MTNL will also launch other plans such as 100 minutes free calls and 200 MB of data services. Between December 25 and January 26, MTNL will offer new broadband and combo plans (landline plus broadband) in which there will be no fixed charges for a month of up to ₹999, the official said.

The Government believes such provision of providing broadband (internet) services would help in achieving the ‘Digital India’ campaign.

“MTNL will also launch a new Android-based app through which customers can avail various services such as booking a new connection, complaints for faulty telephone, information on bills and also payment of bills through it,” the official said, adding that customers can download the app from the Google Play Store.

All this will be announced by Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Communications and IT on Thursday.

Reviving BSNL, MTNL

Earlier this month, the Minister had informed Lok Sabha that the government was in process of reviving BSNL and MTNL through various short, medium and long term measures.

Prasad himself has been reviewing working of the telecom firms on a fortnightly basis and stressing officials to work on increasing the revenue potential and identifying business opportunities, among others. The government has also waived the loan to BSNL involving an amount of ₹1,411 crore. Besides, it has provided financial support of ₹492 crore to MTNL towards payment of minimum alternate tax.

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