TNM Limited’s subscribers should brace for hard times as they will have to dig deeper in their pockets to make phone calls following a decision by the company to increase tariffs by 19.5 percent effective August 1, 2012.

In a statement, TNM said the hike is due to the recent exchange rate adjustments and the rise in the cost of utilities, goods and services which resulted in a direct increase in major parts of the company’s expenditure.

“It is essential for TNM to maintain the profitability of the business to support the company’s continued investment programme in telecommunications infrastructure in the country,” reads part of the statement.

TNM said the standard prepaid tariff will be at K52.20 per minute during peak hours from TNM to TNM while off-peak period rate will be at K28.20 per minute. The statement further said calls during peak hours from TNM subscribers to other networks in the country will go up to K64.80 per minute with off peak being billed at K32.30 per minute.

However, the company said the international calls rate has not changed as it still stands at K70 per minute.

The statement further said text messages to any destination in the country will remain at K10 per message and that the standard data tariff will not change as well as it will remain at K10.24 per megabyte.