Reductions in Italian telephone charges, announced earlier this year, will be introduced from October 1, under-secretary at the Post ministry Michele Lauria told Reuters. The government has estimated that the overhaul in telephone tariffs will help cut inflation by just 0.01 percentage points. The changes will include a 4.6% reduction in international charges and an 18% reduction in the price of long distance domestic phone calls. The post ministry has estimated that the revision will cost Telecom Italia SpA $458m a year in lower revenue. But the state-controlled telephone operator has said this loss should be covered by an anticipated increase in phone calls.
