Re 1/minute satphone calls for armed forces

New Delhi, October 18

Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha today said paramilitary and armed forces would be able to make calls to their families using satellite phone at Re 1 per minute from tomorrow.

The current call rate for most such connections was Rs 5 per minute, although some subsidised ones cost Re 1. “On the eve of Diwali, we are announcing that armed forces and paramilitary forces stationed in remote areas and tough terrains on borders will be able to make satellite phone calls at Re 1 per minute. This will enable them to talk to their families for longer duration,” Sinha said.

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The minister also announced that no rental would be charged from security forces from tomorrow. “At present, Rs 500 monthly rent is charged for satellite phone connections,” he said.

Satellite phone service was earlier being provided by Tata Communications, but now it would be provided by the state-run telecom firm BSNL. The call charge was Re 1 in 2009-10 to begin with, to be revised every five years.

At present, there are 2,500 satellite phone connections operational in the country. “We have a capacity of 5,000. We are informing the defence and home ministries that more connections can be given,” Sinha said. — PTI