(a) whether the Government have recently revised the rules related to S.T.D. calls;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the telephone subscribers have to pay more for STD calls between 7 P.M. to 8 P.M.;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor;
(e) the extent of loss suffered by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) after privatisation of National Long Distance Services/ STD services; and
(f) the names of the private companies authorised for the purpose and started functioning in each state?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)
(a) & (b): The department has been progressively reducing the STD call charges. In the first phase effective from 1.5.99 STD charges were reduced by an average of 23% and in the second phase effective from 1.10.2000 rates have been further reduced by an average of 13%, thereby resulting in a total reduction of approximately 36%. In addition, the department has been providing off-peak rates for the duration of 13 hours in one day, the off-peak rates being lower than the peak-rates ranging from 45% to 75%.
(c) & (d): In order to utilise the network capacity more optimally, the time slot of 7 P.M. to 8 P.M. which was earlier in the off-peak (concessional rate) tariff slab has been converted into a peak time(full rate) tariff slab and simultaneously the peak time slot of 8 A.M. to 9A.M. has been converted to off-peak by reducing the rates to half (approximately) from the earlier prevailing full rates. The basic principle, of providing 11 hours peak time and 13 hours off-peak time, has remained unchanged.
(e) & (f): Although the guidelines for private companies for providing National Long Distance Services/ STD Services have been announced on 13-08-2000, no licence agreement have been signed yet. In view of this, the question of loss suffered by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited does not arise at this stage.