India's First Mobile Call

On July 31, 1995, India entered a new era of communication with its first-ever mobile phone call

The first call was made by Jyoti Basu, West Bengal's Chief Minister, to Sukh Ram, Union Communication Minister.

[{"selector":"#anim-3c67234f-e5a6-4c4c-af2a-44f9539eda72 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0.7812497013425383%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

The call was made using a Nokia handset over the Modi Telstra network

[{"selector":"#anim-8d43138f-2b9c-4a73-b12b-7351fce67419 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0.7812497013425383%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

In 1995, mobile calls cost ₹8.4 per minute for both incoming and outgoing.

[{"selector":"#anim-c9429882-4a97-48a7-b487-664dd063585b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0.7812497013425383%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Mobile communication was a luxury, used only by a few due to high costs.

[{"selector":"#anim-8f61b7a2-2568-4585-9461-0162418ac5b6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0.7812497013425383%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Since then, India has witnessed a communication revolution, with mobile services now accessible to almost everyone.

[{"selector":"#anim-1c1a19de-8655-48f2-a447-727c137c99b3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0.7812497013425383%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Today, mobile calls in India are virtually free, thanks to competition and technological advancements.

[{"selector":"#anim-58b4582c-586d-4061-904d-9ea9dbf1fed7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0.7812497013425383%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]