VSNL launches global calling card  at Rs 11/min 
Financial Express — September 30, 2004

Tata-owned Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) has launched the Tata Indicom "Global Calling Card" with the objective of catering to the Indians travelling abroad. This comes soon after the launch of Tata Indicom's "Hello Duniya" and "India-on-call" Calling Cards. The new offering will allow Indians visiting the US for instance to make calls to India at Rs 11 per minute. "The calling card will be useful to a person who is travelling and for those who do not have the STD facility at home" said VSNL managing director SK Gupta. 

The biggest advantage in the case of "Global Calling Card", according to VSNL, is that it is pre-paid. "This is cheaper than roaming and is cost-effective," Mr Gupta said. The offering will allow users to not just make calls from the country he is in to India but to any part of the world. At the sidelines of the press conference, Mr Gupta said a decision on his position as VSNL managing director will be taken after Tata group chairman Ratan Tata returns from the United States. 

At the time of privatising VSNL in 2002, Mr Gupta was appointed to the Tata group for a five year period out of which two would be as managing director of VSNL. This two year period ends on September 30. Responding to a query, Mr Gupta only said, "I will continue to remain with the Tatas though the finer details of the contract which will include my position will be decided after October 1."