The move is linked to a reduction in access deficit charges (ADC) payable by operators to government.

While revised ADC rates are usually announced in February, this year the regulator is issuing a consultation paper in February to be followed by its final word on new tariffs by March or April.

ADC is paid for all voice calls on a per minute basis for every incoming and outgoing call from India. ADC set to vanish from April 2008
New Delhi: For outgoing calls, whether fixed line, GSM or CDMA mobile, Indian subscribers pay 80 paise a minute regardless of the country, time or duration of the call on an average ILD rate of Rs 5 for most countries.

For incoming calls, international subscribers pay double Rs 1.60/minute regardless of country of origin, time or type of phone (fixed or mobile) called in India.

This differential ADC between internationally originated and local calls has spawned the growth of a flourishing grey market regime, acknowleded in a TDSAT order of March 2005 as a formidable national security threat.

In January, Trai sought specific details from ILD operators relating to international minutes without CLI and names of countries/foreign carrier. The purpose of ADC was originally to cover the deficit arising due to access tariffs being below costs. Trai first instituted this in 2003.