THE cost of international calls drops from Wednesday, when Telkom rates will drop between 1,7% and 29,3% during weekdays between 8am and 8pm. Telkom said on Monday that it has now dropped its international call charges five times in the last two years. When the cuts were first announced in late 1998, it was clear the biggest cuts were on calls to countries least likely to be rung by South Africans — such as those in South America. The cuts affect calls to 86 countries.