India: Railways may soon book tickets on phone for any destination and class at the country level

 

Train passengers may not have to very soon face the travails of standing in long queues at reservation counters to procure tickets. Railways is seriously mulling over an idea to book tickets on phone for any destination and class at the country level.

According to a Railway Board official, while online ticket booking facilities for e-ticketing and cell phone ticket booking have evoked impressive response from passengers across the country, the idea to book tickets on phone calls is gaining importance among railway circles. "Efforts are going on to make this project a reality now," he said. 

Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is working on the project seriously to make it come true. There is every possibility that a new inquiry number - 138 - would be used at the country level for booking tickets on phone calls. Passengers booking their tickets by phone calls would have to use cash cards purchased from IRCTC counters, an IRCTC official said, adding delivery of tickets could be from either the PRS (passenger reservation system) or collection centres. 

Thus, railway tickets would be made available at the passengers' doorsteps. Phone calls could be made from all telecom operators, sources said. 

An IRCTC official said the new system would enable passengers to access travel-related information like availability of accommodation, 'tatkal' booking, train number, concession and cancellation as well, while the railway inquiry number 139 would continue to offer basic service like PNR details and other information. 

Meanwhile, East Central Railway (ECR) has taken several measures to prevent misuse of 'tatkal' scheme by touts or vested interests at all major stations under its jurisdiction. With a view to reducing the chances of misuse of e-ticketing, railways has already stopped 'quick book option' and 'cash booking' between 8am and 9am every day. Besides, each individual is allowed to book only two tickets between 8am and 9am to check misuse of 'tatkal' scheme, said an ECR official. 

Besides, railways has made it compulsory to carry one of the eight prescribed identity proofs by any passenger booking tickets under the 'tatkal' scheme to prevent transfer of 'tatkal ' tickets, an ECR official said.

(C) Times of India

Saudi Arabia may find more competition in call rates in the coming years

Saudi Arabia may cut call-termination rates for telecom operators in 2013, the chief executive of Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) told Reuters, in a move that would spur increased competition in the Kingdom.

Termination rates are fees that one telecom operator charges another for terminating calls on its network. The fees tend to favor more established operators because they terminate a greater portion of calls.

“Next year, I think you will see a reduction in termination fees, unless the regulator foresees a more accelerated termination (reduction) rate to be introduced,” said Khaled Al-Kaf, chief executive of Mobily, an affiliate of the UAE’s Etisalat.

“I want to stay neutral in that area,” added Al-Kaf, when asked whether he would favor a cut in termination rates.

Saudi termination fees have been unchanged for more than four years at 0.25 riyals ($0.07) for mobile-to-mobile and fixed line-to-mobile calls and 0.1 riyals for mobile-to-fixed line calls, effectively setting minimum call prices.

Termination fees only apply on cross-network calls, while consumers pay the same rate regardless, so operators have a higher margin on calls within their own network.

“Termination charges tend to fall as competition increases. Usually, operators pass on part of any cut in termination fees to consumers,” Marc Hammoud, Deutsche Bank telecoms analyst, said.

As the former monopoly, Saudi Telecom Company could have the most to lose from a fee cut, but this would also aid its aggressive push to sell fixed-line bundles.

STC competes with Mobily and third mobile operator Zain Saudi, with STC dominant in fixed-line calls.

“Cutting termination fees would probably benefit Mobily and Zain Saudi to the detriment of STC, but STC would gain wholesale revenues as well seeing inter-connection fees decline,” said Asim Bukhtiar, Riyad Capital head of research.

“Zain Saudi uses Mobily’s network in some areas – it doesn’t have full population coverage – so it could see some benefit from lower termination fees. But this would be a short-term benefit, with Zain Saudi trying to expand its network.”

STC has tried to claw back lost domestic market share by offering aggressively-priced fixed line bundles.

These typically offer unlimited internet access and unlimited domestic phone calls, yet STC remains liable for termination fees to other operators, so lower rates would boost margins and potentially spur it to cut bundle costs further.

The Saudi regulator declined to comment. Analysts said its reluctance to cut termination fees in recent years is in part to prevent operators slashing prices to uncompetitive levels.

“Termination fees in Saudi Arabia are on the high side, but not radically so – when they look out of step with other markets then the pressure on the regulator to act will increase,” said Credit Suisse telecoms analyst Richard Barker.

Saudi operators pay royalties of 15 percent on mobile revenue, 10 percent on fixed line and seven percent on data, analysts said. — Reuters

(C) Saudi Gazette