Government to scrap roaming charges

The National Telecom Policy 2011 has created a "One Nation" plan that  abolishes mobile roaming charges and aims to provide mobile users a affordable broadband service across the country.

Communication Minister, Kapil Sibal said, “the objective of the policy is to provide the affordable, reliable and secure telecommunication and broadband services across the country”.  The plan also covers the VAS services. VAS services are the value added services, which includes SMS's. With this plan in place now you will be able to send SMS’s on much lower rates.

Telecom operators might oppose this policy of free roaming because it could affect their bottom lines. There are also chances that telecom operators may hike the STD rates to oppose the implementation of this policy. Generally a roaming call is charged Rs 1.5 while a SMS is charged at  Rs 1 on roaming. This plan will benefit mobile users immensely, specially those who have transferable jobs and often travel between inter states.

This plan come just in time for festivities. Once implemented the plan will alow you to wish your near and dear ones traveling to other states for free. Also if you are traveling to another state and you are aware which network works better, you can switch your operator using the number portability service.

With the free roaming policy in line we are expecting to see a boost in the number portability as well.