To counter Reliance Jio’s offer, Airtel, Vodafone and Idea may cut data rate to retain customers

The Indian telecom biggies—Vodafone India, Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular—might soon announce a cut in their data rate to retain their customers.

By: News Desk |
February 22, 2017 3:00 pm

The announcement made by Reliance Industry’s Chairman Mukesh Ambani about extending Reliance Jio’s “Happy New Year” offer for existing customers until March 31, 2018, has created a sensation in the telecom market. Due to this, the Indian telecom biggies—Vodafone India, Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular—might soon announce a cut in their data rate to survive the competition.

According to the analysts and telecom industry experts, “Vodafone India, Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular will be forced to slash data rates soon to hold on to their upper-end customers with Reliance Jio’s “Happy New Year” offer which provides unlimited voice and nearly 30 GB of data at a modest monthly charge of Rs 303 from April 1.”

Speaking to Economic Times, a senior Industry Executive said that “to remain profitable in the upcoming quarters, it will be important for Vodafone, Bharti and Idea to hold on to their upper-end customers. These users generate over 60% of their revenues for them.”

Earlier on February 21, Mukesh Ambani announced that the existing Jio customers would have to pay a nominal Rs 99 membership fee and another Rs 303 a month to avail of all the benefits of the unlimited voice and data “Happy New Year” offer.

“The Reliance Jio Infocomm has added 100 million subscribers on its network, in less than six months of the launch of its mobile telephony services,” Ambani added.

Here is the list of offers provided by Vodafone, Airtel and Idea:

Vodafone

Vodafone announced seven new 4G plans for prepaid users last month.

The plan starts at Rs 150 for which user gets 1GB of 4G data valid for 30 days. Similarly, 4G services at Rs 250, 4GB data, at Rs 350, 6GB data, at Rs 450, 9GB data, at Rs 650, 13GB data, at Rs 999 Plan 22GB data and Rs 1500 Plan 35GB data are available for 30 days.

Unlike Reliance Jio, there is no daily limit in any of the plans.

Only prepaid customers can avail these plans.

Airtel

At present, the telecom company has two plans on offer that gives some sort of a competition to Reliance Jio.
Prepaid 4G data plan: It provides 30GB of 4G data at Rs 1,495 for three months.

Special 4G data plan:

It offers data worth Rs 9,000 for 12 months to customers who switch to Airtel 4G.

The 12 months offer is available to any customer with a 4G mobile handset, and who is currently not on the Airtel network. Any customer, including existing Airtel customers, upgrading to a new 4G handset can also avail this offer.

This offer can be availed only till February 28, 2017.

For Prepaid users: 3GB data with every Rs 345 recharge

Under this offer, customers with any 4G mobile handset who are not on the Airtel network or upgrading to a new 4G device, can enjoy 3GB free data, in addition to the regular pack benefits with Airtel’s Rs 345 prepaid recharge.

The pack will offer free calls – Local and STD – to any network in India plus 4GB data (1GB regular pack benefit and 3GB free data).

The first time free 3GB data benefit can be availed through MyAirtel app and data benefits on subsequent recharges will be instant.

The pack benefits will be valid for 28 days and can be availed for a maximum of 13 recharges till December 31, 2017.

For Postpaid users: Free 3 GB data per month with all MyPlan Infinity Plans

Customers with any 4G mobile handset who are not on the Airtel network or upgrading to a new 4G device, will get 3 GB free data per month, with all MyPlan Infinity plans.

This is in addition to regular plan benefits which includes unlimited free voice calling – Local,STD, roaming, free SMS and free subscription to Wynk Music and Wynk Movies.

For instance, the Rs 549 Infinity plan will offer unlimited free calling plus 6GB data (3GB regular data and 3GB free data) per month along with other pack benefits to customers under this offer. The Rs 799 Infinity plan will offer unlimited free calling plus 8GB data (5GB regular data and 3GB free data) per month along with other pack benefits to customers under this offer.

Postpaid customers can claim the free data through MyAirtel App.

Idea Cellular

It has announced a new plan last month under which it is offering 3GB of additional mobile data to customers who switch to new 4G handsets. Free data is provided to customers under the new plan will be 3G or 4G, depending on circle and handset. The data will be on 2G in the circles where Idea operates under 3G roaming agreements until 4G is launched.

For existing Idea prepaid 4G handset customers

1GB of data on Rs 348 recharge pack, in addition to unlimited voice calling and SMS is available.Users who recharge with this pack on a new 4G handset will get additional 3GB data. The benefit is valid for 28 days and can be availed for a maximum of 13 recharges in 365 days.

Idea postpaid customers subscribing to Rs 499 rental plan

Unlimited local, national and incoming roaming calls with 3GB free data on 4G handset will be available. Non-4G handset users will get unlimited calling benefits and 1GB free data.

Idea postpaid customers with Rs 999 monthly rental plan

Users will get all benefits of Rs 499 plan; besides this, they will be able to make free calls during roaming, get 8GB of mobile broadband on 4G handsets and 5GB data on other handsets.