MTNL, BSNL likely to offer free roaming plans from Jan 26

State-owned telecom firms MTNL and BSNL are likely to launch new roaming plans from January 26 that will offer their subscribers free calls, sources said.

"MTNL has plans to make roaming free for its customers on its network in Delhi and Mumbai without any additional charge," said an official source.

He added, however, that BSNL will also have a roaming plan for free calls, but its customers may have to shell out Re 1 a day to avail of the facility.

schemes are likely to be in place from January 26.

Several private telecom operators already offer plans under which, for a monthly or daily fee starting Rs 5, people get all incoming calls without roaming charges.

MTNL has operations in Delhi and Mumbai only, while BSNL has operations across country except in these two circle.

MTNL's Mumbai customer will not have to pay any extra charge when they travel to Delhi, and same scheme will apply for its Delhi customers.

Further details of PSUs plans could not be ascertained. Source said that Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal is likely to announce this scheme within couple of days.

"Minister (Sibal) had asked the PSUs in November to come up with free roaming scheme. Though MTNL made it free, BSNL will levy charge so that it can bear cost. Customers availing scheme will enjoy local tariff wherever they travel," the source said.

As per latest the data released by telecom regulator Trai, 9.78 crore mobile subscribers while MTNL has 35.75 lakh customers on its network.