In a move that may bring some relief to basic subscribers, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd is working out alternate tariff packages with 'flexibility and value additions,' and expects to file the new tariffs with the telecom regulator this month.

"We will not go against TRAI's tariff order, as it is mandatory for operators to offer a standard package. But we are working out alternate tariff packages and we will file it with the regulator this month," a top BSNL official said on conditions of anonymity.

The official said that as part of the alternate tariff package, the corporation would see if there was a possibility of 'bringing some flexibility and value additions' to offer some relief to subscribers.

"We will work out alternate packages so that subscribers do not feel the pinch," he said, but did not comment on the structure of the new tariffs.

The official also declined to comment on the number of new packages that are being worked out.

TRAI recently announced its new tariff order which brings with it an increase in basic phone rentals, reduction in call duration and sharp curtailment in number of free calls with effect from April 1, 2003, while some good news would come in form of free incoming calls for cellular subscribers.

TRAI had announced a hike in telecom tariffs by increasing the monthly rental to Rs 280 from Rs 250 in urban areas and reduced the call duration to two minutes from existing three minutes, while making all incoming calls free on cellular phones.

Free calls have also been halved to 30 a month from 60 in the urban areas, while in case of rural areas free calls have come down to 50 from 75.

In the rural areas, there would be no change in the monthly rental and would remain unchanged at Rs 70 and Rs 120 depending upon the capacity of the telephone exchange.

While in semi-urban areas with exchange capacity of 30,000 to 99,999 lines, the rental would go up to Rs 200 from existing level of Rs 180.

In the long-distance calls segment, for distance between 0 to 50 km calls would be treated as local calls. While for distance above 50 km, the operators would be free to decide the tariff subject to a ceiling of Rs 8.40 per minute.

Even for international long distance calls, operators would have freedom to determine the tariffs.