The new call rate has resulted in ambivalence among subscribers; everywhere, the talk is about how the lowest call rate has risen from .25 paisa to .45 paisa. In this discussion, the off-net rate was not included which was .60 paisa in the past.
Mobile operators say that due to the new rule, call rates will not rise; only Citycell had .25 paisa for within City cell calls. A list of on-net call rate shows .53 Paisa for Grameen Phone, .43 paisa for Robi .48 Paisa for Banglalink and .39 paisa for Teletalk.
According to new rates, mobile operators will not be permitted to decide any call rate below .45 paisa with the highest rate going up to Tk. 2.
Leading officials of several operators have said that previously, some operators were taking more than the ceiling rate. That will change now.
Despite the lowest rate at .25 paisa, the cost incurred by the subscriber went up to .39-40 paisa and for off net, it went to .89 paisa to Tk. 1.40.
A leading mobile phone official says: : “the new system will also have 1 second and 10 second pulse; pulse may be given in 5 seconds also.”
If call rate falls then the pulse system will give benefit to the client, added the official.
If a subscriber got 15 minutes voice call for Tk. 10 then, in the new system, they will get 12-13 minutes. It may appear that 2-3 minute has fallen from voice call but the cost per minute is also coming down, the official informed.
“A full picture of the change will be presented to the subscriber in six months.”