In the Indian telecom industry, the “disruptive” entry of Reliance Jio is a great momentum behind the data tariff war. To recall, Reliance Jio rolled out its services officially on 1 September 2016, and now it has already crossed over 100 million user base. A couple of days ago, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio also announced their much-awaited 4G VoLTE-enabled feature phone, dubbed as “JioPhone” in India with an “effective price” of Rs. 0 (Zero). Yes, you read that right. Reliance Jio’s effectively free offering of low-cost 4G enabled VoLTE handset and its free unlimited high-speed 4G data and free voice call services have triggered a new form of pricing revolution in the Indian telecom sector.
In the month of July, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio revised its “Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan” offer with a new Rs. 399 recharge pack and Rs. 509 recharge pack. Under Reliance Jio’s new Dhan Dhana Dhan offer, Jio Prime members recharging with Rs. 399 can avail free unlimited voice calling (any network and any region in the country), SMSes, along with a FUP of 1GB 4G mobile data per day for a period of 84 days (total 84GB data). On the other hand, Rs. 509 recharge pack offers its Prime subscribers free unlimited voice calling (any network and any region in the country), SMSes, and 2GB 4G mobile data per day for a period of 56 days (total 56GB data), instead of 84 days under the earlier offer.
To counter Reliance Jio’s “Dhan Dhana Dhan” offer, other leading telecom operators including Vodafone, Airtel, BSNL, Idea & Aircel have already updated their chart of unlimited data tariff plans. The telecom operators have come with new aggressive plans to compete against the Reliance Jio, which has captured over 10 crore subscribers in a short period of time.
Here is a quick look at Telecom operator’s prepaid plans:
Vodafone Prepaid Plans:
Vodafone Rs. 348 Plan: Vodafone prepaid subscribers recharging with Rs. 348 can avail free unlimited voice calling to any network and any region in the country, along with 1GB of 3G or 4G (depending on the circle) data per day for a period of 28 days, totalling 28GB 3G/4G data for the period.
Vodafone First Recharge Coupon (FRC) 244: Under this “FRC 244” special recharge, new 4G prepaid customers recharging with Rs. 244 can avail free unlimited voice calling to the same network and any region in the country, along with 1GB of 3G/4G data per day for a period of 70 days, totalling 70GB 3G/4G data for the period.
Vodafone Rs. 346 Prepaid Recharge plan: The Vodafone Rs. 346 recharge plan offers its prepaid subscribers unlimited voice calling (all network Local + STD) and 1GB 4G mobile internet data per day with a validity of 56 days, totalling 56GB 4G data for the period. Talking about its FUP details, Vodafone offers a cap of 300 minutes (local +STD) of outgoing calls within a single day and 1200 minutes of outgoing calls within seven consecutive days or calls to 100 selected numbers in any period of seven consecutive days.
Vodafone Rs. 449 Recharge Plan: This plan offers free unlimited voice calling (any network Local + STD) and 1GB 3G/4G data per day for 84 days. Under this “Rs. 449 Plan” recharge scheme, Vodafone prepaid customers recharging with Rs. 449 can avail free unlimited voice calling to any network and any region in the country, along with 1GB of 3G data per day 84 days.
Vodafone First Recharge (FR) 445: The First Recharge (FR) 445 offers its new prepaid subscribers in the Maharashtra & Goa circles unlimited voice calling (all network Local + STD) and 1GB 3G/4G data per day for 84 days. All Vodafone prepaid subscribers with 4G-enabled handsets can avail this offer and enjoy the company’s best value voice and data proposition in the Maharashtra & Goa circle as the company launched this offer only for the residents of Maharashtra & Goa. Note that, customers having a non-4G handset and recharging with FR 445, they can enjoy only 2GB data with unlimited local and STD calls valid over 35 days.
Bharti Airtel Prepaid Plans:
Airtel Rs. 399 Plan: Airtel prepaid subscribers recharging with Rs. 399 can avail free unlimited voice calling to any network and any region (Local + STD) in the country, along with 1GB of 3G or 4G (depending on the circle) mobile data per day for a period of 84 days, totalling 84GB 3G/4G data for the period. All Airtel prepaid subscribers having 4G-enabled handsets with 4G SIMs can avail this offer and enjoy the voice and data proposition in the said period.
Airtel Rs. 244 plan: Under this Rs. 244 plan, customers recharging with Rs. 244 can avail free unlimited voice calling (same network Local + STD), along with 1GB 3G or 4G (depending on the circle) mobile data for a period of 70 days. This plan is also applicable for 4G-enabled handsets only.
Airtel 349 plan: This plan of Airtel offers unlimited local and STD calls to all networks along with 1GB of 3G/4G data per day for 28 days.
Airtel Rs. 449 Recharge Plan: Airtel prepaid subscribers recharging with Rs. 449 can avail free unlimited voice calling to any network and any region in the country, along with 1GB of 3G or 4G (depending on the circle) mobile data per day with a validity of 84 days, totalling 84GB 3G/4G data for the period. Bharti Airtel offers a cap of 300 minutes of outgoing calls within a single day or calls to 100 selected numbers within a week.
BSNL Prepaid Plans:
BSNL Chaukka 444 plan: BSNL “Chaukka-444” is a special tariff voucher (STV) plan, which the company has launched in the country as part of a special promotional offer for its prepaid subscribers. BSNL Chaukka-444 plan offers unlimited data including 4GB of 3G data per day for a period of 90 days on a recharge of just Rs 444. So, 1GB of 3G mobile data will cost less than a rupee, which is the lowest in the telecom sector.
BSNL Sixer-666 plan: Customers recharging with Rs. 666 can avail free unlimited voice calling to any network and any region in the country, along with 2GB of 2G or 3G (depending on the circle) mobile data for a period of 60 days.
BSNL Triple Ace 333 plan: This plan offers unlimited 3G data for two months (recently revised) with a FUP limit of 3GB per day, that means customers recharging with Rs. 333 can avail a total of 168GB 3G data for 56 days.
BSNL First Recharge Coupon (FRC) 298: The BSNL “FRC 298” recharge plan offers its new prepaid subscribers unlimited voice calling (all network Local + STD) and 1GB mobile data per day with a validity of 56 days. The FRC 298 is a First Recharge Coupon that means only new subscribers from any corner of India can avail this FRC scheme and enjoy the best value voice and data proposition in the said period. Sadly, we don’t have any words about the BSNL Rs. 298 recharge plan’s FUP limit for the voice calls. Though the plan gives 1GB data per day, after FUP limit, the internet speed will be decreased to 80 Kbps.
Idea Cellular Plans:
Idea Rs. 348 plan: Idea prepaid subscribers recharging with Rs. 348 can avail free unlimited voice calling to any network and any region (Local + STD) in the country, along with 1GB of 4G data per day for a period of 28 days. All Idea prepaid customers having 4G-enabled handsets with 4G SIMs can avail this offer and enjoy the voice and data proposition in the said period.
Idea Rs. 357 plan: Under the “Rs. 357 plan”, customers recharging with Rs. 357 can avail free unlimited voice calling to any network and any region in the country, along with 1GB of 4G mobile data per day with a validity period of 28 days. Notably, those customer having a non-4G handset will get only 1GB internet data.
Idea Rs. 449 plan: This plan of Idea offers unlimited voice calling the same network (local and STD), along with 1GB of 4G mobile data per day for 70 days. Talking about its FUP details, Idea offers a cap of 300 minutes (local +STD) of outgoing calls within a single day, 1200 minutes of outgoing calls within seven consecutive days and 3,000 minutes of free calls to non-Idea numbers. After FUP limit, you will be charged 30 paise per minute (local +STD calls).
Idea Rs. 697 Recharge plan: This plan also offers unlimited voice calling (Local & STD) and 1.5GB of 4G mobile data per day for a period of 84 days.
Aircel Prepaid Plans:
Aircel First Recharge Coupon (FRC) 348: Under this “FRC 348” special plan, Aircel prepaid customers recharging with Rs. 348 can avail free unlimited voice calling to any network and any region across the country, along with 1GB of 2G or 3G (depending on the circle) mobile data per day for a period of 84 days, totalling 84GB 3G data for the period. Note that, this plan is only applicable for Uttar Pradesh (East) customers only. All Aircel subscribers with 2G, 3G or 4G handsets can avail this offer and enjoy the best value voice and data proposition in the circle.
Aircel Rs. 419 First Recharge tariff plan: The First Recharge Coupon 419 offers its new prepaid subscribers or new Aircel SIM buyers unlimited voice calling (any network Local + STD) and 2GB 3G/2G data per day with a validity of 84 days. Notably, this plan is only applicable for North East customers only.
Aircel First Recharge Coupon 449: Under this “FRC 449” special recharge scheme, new subscribers recharging with Rs. 449 can avail free unlimited voice calling to any network and any region in the country, along with 2GB of 3G or 2G (depending on the circle) mobile data per day for a period of 84 days, totalling 168GB 3G/2G data for the period. This plan is only applicable for Jammu & Kashmir customers only. Apart from this, there is also a first recharge plan called FRC 229, where the company offers unlimited voice calling along with 1GB 3G/2G data per day for 84 days.
Aircel RC 333 Pack: Under this “RC 333” special plan, customers recharging with Rs. 333 can avail 30GB of 3G data with no daily data usage limits for a period of 30 days. This plan is only applicable for Karnataka customers only. Aircel subscribers in Karnataka will be able to recharge the new data plan via e-recharge or by dialling USSD -*121*333#.
