Taking a cue from Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, which had earlier reduced bandwidth prices, state-owned Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd has slashed its leaseline and data circuit prices by around 30-50 per cent.

The reduction in prices, effective from January 1, is to offer bandwidth at competitive prices and retain the existing customers of the company, MTNL officials said today.

MTNL has reduced bandwidth prices on 2 mbps to 34 mbps circuits by 30 per cent, above 34 mbps to 155 mbps by 40 per cent and by 50 per cent on 155 mbps and above circuits, officials said.

The telephony provider, which operates in Mumbai and Delhi circles, is also offering discounts of around 10 per cent on the total bill of leaselines and telephones amounting to over Rs 15-25 lakh (Rs 1.5-Rs 2.5 million).

The company would offer a 15 per cent discount on bills of over Rs 25-50 lakh (Rs 2.5-Rs 5 million) and 20 per cent on bills of over Rs 50 lakh, they said.

However, the discount scheme is not applicable for circuits, which have been offered other major benefits, they added.

MTNL, under its 'leader advantage' plan, would offer 15 per cent discount on bills of connectivity links of 20 mbps and above, 20 per cent for above 25 mbps to 50 mbps, 25 per cent on 50 mbps to 100 mbps and 30 per cent for above 100 mbps, they said.

The telephony service provider would offer a "bonus" of one per cent for each additional year of leasing beyond three years and another one per cent bonus if the bandwidth increases by over 10 per cent, the officials said, adding these initiatives are under MTNL's 'companion reward' programmes.