Tariffs for consumers using ISD services as well as for a slew of sectors-ITEs/BPO/KPO using bulk in

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Tariffs for consumers using ISD services as well as for a slew of sectors-ITEs /BPO/KPO, call centres, banks, small and medium enterprises and ISPs using bulk international bandwidth-may come down. Telecom regulator Trai is reviewing charges paid by International Long Distance Operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to Cable Landing Stations (CLS) in India for landing international capacities on India's shores. It is expected that the review will result in lower charges in the next two months, which will be comparable and marketbased , with the average international caller and the ITEs/BPO sectors being the main beneficiaries . There is no standard single tariff for international calls, since it is dependent on the operator , the package and the country and time of calling. The charges under review will be governed by Trai's International Telecommunication Access to Essential Facilities at Cable Landing Station Regulations of 2007. These regulations provided for a minimum commitment of a period of three years, which has now expired. The present review is timely since it is felt that some of the charges might be higher, especially in comparison with Southeast Asian economies, the biggest competitor for India for the global low-cost ITEs, BPO/ KPO/call centre business. Data shows that a large amount of India's business is rapidly moving to countries like Indonesia and the Philippines. Anumber of submarine cable-based international consortiums like SMW4, SMW3, TIC and Falcon provide international bandwidth to Indian ILD service providers. These submarine cables terminate at cable landing stations which are operated and managed by a handful of Indian companies, namely, Tata, Bharti, Reliance and BSNL.source: economic times