璏obile network operators in The Philippines have implemented shorter unit billing model for calls between mobiles within the same network. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced the effectivity of a new "per pulse" rate for voice calls on cellular phones which would make billing more reflective of the real costs of a call.

NTC Region 8 Director Samuel Young informed that the new scheme does not change the per-minute cost of cellular phone calls but it would reflect calls that last less than a minute.

Under the new rates, telecom firms will be allowed to charge a "flag down" rate of P3 for the first two pulses, or a total of 12 seconds. Every succeeding pulse will then be billed. Each minute has 10 six-second pulses.

Director Young explained that assuming the prevailing rate is P7.50 per minute, every pulse after the flag down rate will cost 56 centavos. After the first minute, the per-pulse charge will increase to 75 centavos.

The resulting cost of a call per minute would still be P7.50 but calls under one minute would cost less. A 30-second call would cost P4.69.

Calls made from one network to another would be covered by per-pulse billing on Dec. 16, the Director Young said, to give telecom firms more time to make adjustments.

The NTC issued a landmark regulation directing all cellular mobile operators to implement a six-second pulse billing mode for mobile calls to take effect on Dec. 6, Director Young informed the Philippine Information Agency.

Director Young said the implementation of the new rates would be observed for two to three months to see if the telephone companies are able to cope or if problems arise.

The three companies earlier asked the NTC to push back the implementation of the new rates to January next year, saying the changes in the billing system may add to the expected problems brought by increased network traffic during the holiday season.