Mon Sep 23 17:22:06 UTC 2024: ## Mobile Tariff Rates Plummet in India, Despite Recent Increases

**New Delhi, India** – Mobile tariff rates in India have plummeted dramatically in the last decade, according to Telecommunications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Speaking on Monday, Scindia highlighted a 95% drop in voice call rates and a 97% decrease in data rates.

Scindia explained that the cost of one gigabyte (GB) of internet data has fallen from ₹297 to ₹8.7 in just 10 years. He also pointed to the significant investments made by telecom operators in upgrading infrastructure, including the transition from 3G to 4G and 5G networks, which totaled ₹4.26 lakh crore over the past two fiscal years.

Despite these substantial cost reductions, the recent increase in entry-level tariffs by private operators Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone-Idea (Vi) has raised concerns about affordability. While these operators have increased their entry-level tariffs by 11-25%, BSNL, the state-owned telecom operator, has seen a surge in subscribers, gaining over 29.47 lakh new customers.

Scindia, however, expressed confidence in the strength of the Indian telecom sector, highlighting the presence of four major players, a rarity globally. He also emphasized the importance of BSNL’s role in the sector and announced that 36,000 mobile towers for BSNL’s 4G services have been installed, with a target of one lakh towers by mid-2025.

Addressing concerns about the financial health of the telecom sector following the Supreme Court’s rejection of Vi’s petition on adjusted gross revenue (AGR), Scindia reiterated the sector’s robustness, stating that the Supreme Court’s decision is currently under review and its implications are being assessed.

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