Further tariff cuts only with fall in taxes, says Kohli, Airtel

Manoj Kohli, chief executive officer and joint managing director, Bharti Airtel, said that mobile phone tariffs will fall further only if there is a cut in the high taxes and levies (of about 13 per cent) prevailing in the Indian telecom sector. He said this on the sidelines of the India Telecom 2009 that took place in New Delhi on Thursday.
He added that if the tax cut does not happen then there is no scope for more reduction in tariffs as they have already touched a rock bottom with a rate of almost one cent per second currently.
On the roll out of 3G services by the telco, Kohli said that by Diwali of 2010 Airtel subscribers will be able to use the next generation network if the auction happens as per schedule.