BSNL today matched its private counterparts in launching the per second prepaid plan offering its subscribers to make local and STD calls within BSNL network at the rate of one paise per second. For calls made to other networks, the charge will be 1.20 paise per second.

For 3G services, the new plan offers voice and video calls at 30 paise per minute. Data usage will be charged at 1 paise for 10 KB.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Kuldeep Goyal, CMD, BSNL said "it is an historical occasion for the country that India has now come at par with most developed countries of the world by making 3G services available to the citizens of this country at the most affordable rates.”

While speaking to TelecomTiger the CMD added, "We have clocked more than 70,000 3G subscribers in 8 months, starting March 2009 till now. Since we started with 20 cities, the initial uptakes were gradual and additionally there was no network available in lot of places." The company now expects to see increased uptake for 3G services.