SLT revises tariffs

With Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) revising its tariffs from November 1 along with an 8.72 per cent overall reduction on all its bills from January 1 to October 31, 2007 which would be reflected in the November bill following a Supreme Court order, the Telecomunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) believes that other telecommunication companies too would bring down their rentals and local tariffs to keep up in the competitive market.

Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Director General Kanchana Ratwatte said that SL Telecom had to oblige with the order given by the courts but with these tariff reductions the users would benefit as the other companies too bring down their charges.

“Other telecommunication companies would follow suit and bring down their charges as there is a huge competition in the market. But it won’t be directed by me,” he said. “The overall 8.72 per cent reduction would affect our revenue, but we hope that by next year the number of customers will increase as the rental have been decreased by a large amount,” a Sri Lanka Telecom spokesperson said.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, another telecommunication company spokesperson said there was a court order to reduce the SLT tariffs because they were high. She denied a revision of tariffs by her company would be effected to compete with the SLT charges.

The tariff revision of Sri Lanka Telecom in 2003 was challenged by the Consumers Association of Lanka in the Court of Appeal and later SLT appealed against the order of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court informed the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to conduct negotiations between the parties. Following the instructions given by the Supreme Court, Sri Lanka Telecom submitted several tariff proposals.