Info on I*/ICO in India (via I* thread)
Iridium Begins Commercial Service In India
(Newsbytes; 03/18/99)
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1999 MAR 18 (Newsbytes) -- By CT Mahabharat,
Newsbytes.
After a delay of almost four months, Iridium India Telecom Ltd., is offering
global mobile personal communication service in India. Iridium, the world's
first global handheld satellite phone and messaging network, was commercially
available elswhere in the world starting November 1, 1998.
The Indian availability of Iridium follows customs clearance from the
government for the first consignment of Iridium handsets. Jaydev H. Raja,
president and managing director, Iridium India Telecom, said tariff rates for
the service, which were approved by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
(TRAI), have also been put in place.
The tariff packages are divided into three groups of A, B and C category. The
cost of handsets inclusive of customs duty for the A category is 195,000 rupees
(Rs), Rs 235,000 for category B and Rs 275, 000 for category C. The activation
fees, which is for one time, is Rs 8, 850 for all the three categories.
Similarly, the monthly subscription rates is at a uniform Rs 27,500 for the
three groups. For a subscriber using the Iridium system within India, the
airtime charges for A is Rs 195 per minute, while for B it is Rs 75 a minute
for the first 500 minutes and Rs 195 a minute thereafter. For category C, it is
Rs 65 per minute for the first 100 minutes and Rs 195 per minute thereafter.
Raja informed that for international calls, Iridium has grouped all countries
into 14 zones. Here the cost per minute of a call takes into account the type
of call, location, duration, use of satellite network or cellular mode and use
of Iridium intercellular roaming facilities.
"There will be no incoming call charges for an Iridium subscriber. However,
callers dialling an Iridium subscriber from India within the country would be
charged a flat rate of Rs 150 per minute," he said.
Though Iridium India had obtained the provisional operating licence to offer
its service in India, it could not start them in November -- primarily because
of the delay in receiving the licence to import handsets and get customs
clearance.
As for ICO Global Communications, which recently formalized an agreement with
VSNL to set up a joint venture for introducing its services in India in the
third quarter of 2000, VSNL is believed to be roping in BPL Group and Bharti
Enterprises as equity partners in the venture.
Reported by Newsbytes News Network, newsbytes.com
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