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Pre-paid mobile subscribers in West Bengal are now flooded with number portability offers from telcos at rock bottom rates.
Ideally, the offers should have been aimed at grabbing a share of Uninor’s 56 lakh subscriber base in the State (Kolkata and Bengal circles) following the closure of the company’s operations.
However, since the anti-poaching regulations don’t allow rollout of schemes targeting subscribers of any particular network, there is a flood of offers – such as free talk time, reduced call charges, etc — to lure subscribers.
Offers
According to market sources, Vodafone had a recharge-with-Rs 171 offer for prepaid subscribers. The offer, primarily targeted at the Uninor subscriber base, was valid till January 18 – a day before Uninor withdrew operations here.
It was also open to users across all networks. Vodafone did not reply to queries sent by the Business Line .
Airtel too is in the race. Apart from regular MNP offers, it has hoardings claiming to have the “best network”.
P. D. Sarma, CEO-Bharti Airtel (Kolkata, West Bengal & Odisha), said around 50 per cent of Uninor’s subscribers are expected to port out to other networks, and they will prefer those telcos who can come up with lower tariffs.
“Uninor was known for cheaper call-rates and a section of their subscribers will look for the lowest available deals,” he told Business Line .
Airtel on its part is expecting some of Uninor’s “high value customers” to switchover to its network. “Maybe 30 per cent of the port outs from Uninor will come to Airtel,” Sarma added.
Price War
The price-war on call charges is evident. Idea’s offers are concerned mainly on facilitating MNP users within the network. Calls within its network (Idea to Idea) are nominally charged at 10 paise/ minute, while calls outside are three time costlier (charged at 30 paise/minute).
Tata Docomo has come up with new recharge coupons aimed at lower call rates within the network. For example, a Rs 25 recharge for six months will enable on-net calls (Tata to Tata) at one paise per six seconds (10 paise/ minute). Free talk time and time specific reduced call rates are some of the other offers. Aircel too has similar talk time schemes on offer.
Trade Schemes
Interestingly, the other point that most of the telcos are tapping is the local retailer or stores that sell recharge coupons.
Market sources said that telcos have, over the last few months, doubled the retailer’s commission if they facilitate a MNP. Compared to a new connection, retailers are now paid nearly double the amount for facilitating a port out (from one network to another).
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