No roaming charges from 2013

Union Minister for Telecommunications Kapil Sibal has said that the mobile phone subscribers need not pay the roaming charges from next year. However, the minister said that it will be a reality once it gets the approval of the union cabinet.

The policy was approved in May this year. As part of the National Telecom Policy 2012, the government had announced earlier in the year that there would be no roaming charges. The idea of doing away with roaming charges was also considered when the Dayanidhi Maran was the incharge of the ministry.

After it gets the approval of the cabinet, the mobile phone users can keep the same number even they came out of their own telecom circle. However, there are some fears that the mobile phone operators may hike their tariffs in order to compensate the policy of ‘no roaming’. One operator told the media that the move of the government will benefit only 10 % of the customers.