TELCO DISCOUNTS MARKET LEADER

Local telephony service provider MTNL is gearing up to launch Internet Services by 9 February. The telco has undercut the market leader and hitherto Internet monopoly VSNL's access rates by 15%. Subscribers can now get 100 hours, 250 hours, and 500 hour Internet access at a charge of Rs 2,550, Rs 5,525 and Rs 8,500 respectively. VSNL charges Rs 3,000, Rs 6,500 and Rs 10,000 for the same access. MTNL is also offering ISDN and leased lines at a price much lower than what VSNL charges the business segment.

The telco expects to attract 100,000 subscribers each in New Delhi and Mumbai by end this year.