Idea Launches one paisa per second tariff

In reply to the Tata Docomo’s one-second billing plan, Idea Cellular, on Thursday, launched a new ‘Super seconds’ tariff plan in
Rajasthan which offers calls at 1 paisa per second on all local and STD calls on any network in the country. With this Idea becomes the first operator in the state to offer such plan as Tata Docomo is yet to launch its services in Rajasthan.

The company will subsequently roll out this plan across the country. Idea Cellular senior vice president and circle head Sunil Kataria told ET that the new plan would lead the acquisition drive for the company. “We have a subscriber base of over 1.8 million and with this scheme, we expect to cross 3 million mark by the end of this fiscal. While existing subscribers can avail the per second plan by purchasing Super Seconds voucher for Rs 24, new subscribers will have to pay Rs 55 voucher for one year service,” he said.

Apart from that, the company has also launched a plan titled ‘Super Saral’, which enables subscribers to make local calls at 40 paise per minute and STD at 60 paisa per minutes on any mobile and landline network across the country. This move is in reaction to rival Airtel's announcement that it will charge 50 paise a minute for local and national long-distance calls within its own network and Reliance Communications’ 50 paise tariff plan for all local and national calls to any network.

The company is also planning to invest Rs 150 crore within a year to extend its coverage area. “We have 55% coverage in the state with more than 3000 towers. We plan to erect 1000 more to strengthen our presence in rural areas,” he said. The company has already invested over Rs 1000 crore in three years since its launch in the state.