Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd on Tuesday announced a slew of new schemes for its subscribers, including a mobile package for the youth with the lowest monthly rental of Rs 99 and 50 hours of free Internet surfing for its Sanchar Net subscribers for a two month period.

In line with the trend to rope in youngsters, BSNL has introduced a scheme for students whereby they can take a CellOne mobile connection by paying an activation fee of Rs 200 and a registration fee of Rs 500.

The registration fee will be adjusted in the first bill. The scheme has the country's lowest rental of Rs 99, which the subscriber can avail of for a period of one year after which he will be taken automatically to Plan 225 which has a monthly rental of Rs 225.

At present, the lowest monthly rental is around Rs 150 offered by private cellular operators. Private operators have also launched youth oriented packages, but those are focused on offering fun services like chatting, ringtones and games.

In comparison, BSNL's Special Student Power 99 scheme, to be launched on September 2 for a 30-day period, aims at reducing the cost of services.

The outgoing airtime for BSNL's new scheme will be the same as that of its Plan 225. Subscribers will also get a 15-second pulse, which means if a student makes a 10-second pulse he would not have to pay for the entire minute.

BSNL is at present the second largest cellular operators with 3.5 million subscribers. The company plans to be the number one operator, overtaking Bharti Cellular by the year-end.

BSNL has also launched a promotional scheme for its Internet users which gives 50 hours of free usage.

The free hours will have to be utilised within 60 days. New subscribers of Sanchar Net will be given additional 50 hours free.

For its fixed-line users BSNL has waived the transfer fee and shifting charges within local area. The existing time limit of minimum 1 year for shifting of telephone has also been removed. Now, one can shift a telephone even after paying the first bill.

A special scheme for BSNL's CellOne subscribers in Chennai has also been launched which waives the activation fee of Rs 200.

In addition, calling card worth Rs 540 will be given free to every new subscriber taking a mobile connection with Rs 525 as monthly rental.

Cell attraction

• Existing BSNL subscribers can get a cell connection for an entry fee of Rs 200
• Fifty hours of free Net surfing for Sanchar Net subscribers
• Registration fee of Rs 500 to be adjusted in the first bill
• Fixed-line phones can be shifted within a local call area for free