The revision was effected following good response for the service. Around 406 bookings were made in Mumbai alone on the day of the launch, general manager (marketing) K J Chacko said. The investment in internet service infrastructure will also be correspondingly increased from Rs 4 crore to Rs 15 crore, he added.

As opposed to Rs 3,000 and Rs 6,500 being charged for a 100-hour and 250-hour account respectively by the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL), MTNL is charging Rs 2,550 and Rs 5,525. Charges for the 500-hour dial-up account is also lower at Rs 8,500 as compared to VSNL.

Internet on a 64 kbps Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) line, is charged at Rs 4,675 for 100 hours, Rs 10,625 for 250 hours and Rs 16,150 for500 hours. For 128 kbps, the accounts cost Rs 9,350, Rs 21,250 and Rs 32,300 respectively.

"We are the network provider -- so we won't have any problem expanding," Chacko said on whether demand would outstrip supply. MTNL has allocated 480 ports at Delhi and Mumbai connections to maintain a port to subscriber ratio of 1:10. It may also take a higher bandwidth from VSNL when the subscriber base expands, Chacko said. It currently has a 2 Mbps link for international connectivity.