Airtel cuts ISD rates to Bangladesh, Nepal by 75%, 40% respectively for prepaid users

Bharti Airte has sharply cut international call tariffs to Bangladesh and Nepal for its prepaid customers to boost consumption on these routes and, in turn, drive overseas call revenues.

International calls to Bangladesh will now be charged at Rs 2.99 a minute from Rs 12 a minute earlier, representing a whopping 75% cut. Calls to Nepal, in turn, will be priced at Rs 7.99 a minute from Rs 13 a minute earlier, reflecting a near 40% reduction.

“These new calling rates will further simplify tariffs and eliminate the need for special ISD packs to make calls to these neighbouring countries,” Bharti Airtel’s chief operating officer Ajai Puri, said Monday in a media statement.

Airtel’s retail and business customers, he said, would “benefit from these reduced rates, adding that the Sunil Mittal-led telco is confident this will “further drive the consumption of minutes on these routes.”

Airtel’s new ISD rates are slated to offer a major fillip to growing socio-economic cooperation in the region, “benefiting migrant population and businesses alike,” the company said in its media statement.

The Bharti Airtel stock was down 0.80% at Rs 328.50 in early afternoon trade on BSE Monday.