UAE’s telecom company (Etisalat) slashed on Saturday its international direct dialing rates by up to 78 percent to over 225 countries “as a gift to subscribers from Etisalat, which is celebrating its silver jubilee,” reported the Gulf News.
The corporation has also reduced charges for mobile calls made within the UAE from 0.39 fils to 0.30 fils per minute during peak hours.
The new tariffs will be effective from September 1.
"This is the biggest series of reductions we have ever announced," said President and Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Ali Salim Al Owais calling the move 'tremendous news' for both nationals and expatriates.
Most expatriates in the UAE come from the sub-continent and Etisalat's price reduction means they will save by as much as 48 percent on IDD calls, said the paper.
Call rates during off-peak hours to Pakistan and Bangladesh will come down by 48 percent, and to India and Sri Lanka by 33 percent.
Peak hour call rates to Pakistan and Bangladesh will be reduced by 37 percent and to India and Sri Lanka by 25 percent.
Callers to South Africa can also enjoy reduced rates of 64 and 70 percent for peak and off-peak hours, respectively, the paper added.
Europeans and Americans will also benefit. Calls to mainland US will cost 54 percent less during off-peak times and 49 percent less during peak times.
Calls rates to Great Britain have been slashed by 40 percent during off-peak times and 36 percent during peak hours.
Today, Etisalat has 1.1 million fixed lines, 1.7 million GSM subscribers, and nearly 250,000 Internet subscribers, said the paper – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
