New Delhi: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd on February 20 gave a pleasant surprise to its cellular subscribers by announcing free incoming calls on CellOne, its cellular service, with immediate effect.

The waiver of incoming call charges would be applicable on Plan 325 in case of post- paid services and across all denominations of pre-paid services, benefitting about 80 per cent of BSNL's cellular phone subscriber base.

TRAI had already directed that incoming calls on cell phones would be free from April 1, 2003. BSNL's announcement would give extra bonanza to its customers.

"There will be no airtime charge on incoming calls for CellOne customers for calls received from any phone, fixed or cellular, and from any operator, BSNL, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) or private operators," BSNL chairman and managing director Prithipal Singh told reporters.

Customers would not have to pay any extra cost for this facility. The new tariff would be valid upto March 31, 2003, he said.

BSNL, which has bagged 14.4 lakh cellular customers, expects to add around 10 lakh customers by March 2003 and 30 lakh customers this year.

Singh said BSNL was also working on new tariff structure and expected to file alternative tariff with TRAI soon.

BSNL also announced a host of initiatives including flexible usage-based tariff for "Always On" Internet services (DIAS) for its wireline customers to suit various user segments.

PTI