Airtel to offer free outgoing calls to any network as against 6p/m charge imposed by Jio

November 7: At a time when Reliance Jio is charging six paise per minute for outgoing calls to other network, Airtel has come up with a promise of no charge for outgoing calls to other networks. This is all about the Interconnect Usage Charge (IUC) of 6 paise per minute which is paid by an operator to its rival operators for connecting calls of its users.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India was earlier proposed to be scrapped by 2020. But TRAI now seems to defer its plan of abolishing the zero-IUC regime. In the backdrop of such a situation, Reliance Jio has already started to charge 6 paise per minute from its customers for making call to other networks.

However, Airtel has given a stiff challenge to Jio by declaring that its users will have to incur no IUC charge and can make outgoing calls to other networks for free.

Meanwhile, BSNL, has also declared that it will give 6 paise for every five minutes of voice calls placed by the subscribers. The money will be credited to the subscriber in the form of cashback. This offer is applicable on BSNL’s wireline, broadband and FTTH customers.