The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reduced the ceiling tariffs for national roaming calls and text messages, and has mandated operators to offer a special roaming tariff plan. These changes will come into effect from May 1, 2015. With the new structure, call charges will likely reduce by 20 per cent, while messaging rates will decline by 75 per cent.

TRAI has set the ceiling for outgoing local calls at Re 0.80 per minute from Re 1 per minute while it has reduced the calling rate on outgoing long distance (inter-circle) voice call to Rs 1.15 per minute from Rs 1.5 per minute.  The incoming calls on roaming will now be charged at maximum of Re 0.45 per minute, as against Re 0.75 earlier. Meanwhile, a maximum of Re 0.25 per SMS will be charged for a local SMS sent compared to Rs 1 per SMS before, while Re 0.38 per SMS will be charged for  STD SMS sent, down from Rs 1.50 per SMS.

Through this order, TRAI has removed the existing mandate to the operators for providing Roaming Tariff Plan (RTP) and Roaming Tariff Plan Free (RTP FR). Further, it has mandated the operators to offer a Special Roaming Tariff Plan to its pre-paid and post-paid subscribers. Under this roaming tariff plan, incoming voice calls while on national roaming shall be made free, on payment of a fixed charge, if any.