There is good news for the people of Tamil Nadu, especially those who speak frequently to Malaysia and Singapore. Now your call rates will be cheaper, if you are a user of Aircel, a joint venture between Malaysia ’s Maxis Communications Berhad and India’s Apollo Hospital Enterprise. Aircel has announced a significant slash in pre-paid ISD call rates across Tamil Nadu ahead of Diwali. A true festival bonanza indeed! The reduction in call rates will largely affect a large number of people residing in the region.

Aircel, a regional mobile phone service provider, is aiming towards becoming a national player in the highly competitive fields of mobile telecommunication before the end of 2009. As per the declared new tariff charges, your new ISD calls to Malaysia or Singapore will be Rs.3 per minute and Rs. 3.5 per minute, if you use Aircel pre-paid recharge coupon for Rs. 96 and Rs. 29 respectively.

By using the new economic Aircel scheme, you will be able to save almost 50% (53% and 45% correspondingly) of your phone bill, said a jubilant Aircel customer, whose elder brother is staying in Malaysia. Critics say, Aircel has reduced the calling-rate to increase it’s subscriber base. In any case, their present offer is the lowest rate prevailing in the region, said a market observer. Presently, Aircel has a customer base of over 13.12 million and has its strong presence across Assam, Tamil Nadu, and North-East. In order to ensure their pan-Indian presence, the company may soon announce more freebies and value-added services for its customers.