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Talk won't be cheap
By Tania Fernando
Sri Lanka Telecom users calling mobiles phones will have to pay at least Rs. 8.50 a minute on a new Calling Party Pays (CPP) system and tariff increases from mid this year, Telecom sources said.

They said the 300 percent increase through the CPP scheme would send up call charges from Rs. 2.20 a minute to Rs. 7. 36 in addition to a 15 percent tariff increase.

Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Chief Themiya Hurulle said the SLT's request for a 15 percent tariff hike from June was being looked into. The rates for the CPP system have been approved by the TRC and were to come into effect from this month but the scheme was put off for July due to technical reasons.

The TRC has also said there would be an increase of Rs. 5.16 per minute for those whose usage is less than 300 units during peak time. If the usage is more than 301 units the increase would be by Rs. 6.12 a minute during peak time. One minute is two units during peak time.

A customer who uses his phone for 50 minutes during peak hours calling a mobile phone would have exceeded his 100 units. At present the charges for these 100 units is Rs. 110. But with the new scheme coming into effect, the additional charge would be Rs. 275.

The TRC chief said that with CPP coming into effect, there would be an increase in out-going charges from mobile phones to another mobile phone.
(See Financial Times for related story)

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