Reliance Jio Prime membership at Rs 99: Here's what the rivals offer - The Indian Express

By: Tech Desk | Published:February 23, 2017 3:00 pm

Reliance Jio Prime membership offer: What are rivals like Vodafone and Airtel offering for data charges? (Source: Reuters)

Reliance Jio's 4G services will become a paid service from April 1, 2017. So it looks like the free data ride is now coming to an end, but there's a new deal that Reliance is offering to customers. Reliance Jio Prime membership was announced on Tuesday by RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and it could prove to be an effective way of retaining its 100 million subscribers.

But is the Rs 99 per year Reliance Jio Prime membership worth it? What are rivals like Vodafone and Airtel offering for data charges? Here's a quick look at all the options to consider.

Reliance Jio Prime membership offer

Currently Reliance Jio's Happy New Year Offer gives users unlimited daily data (cap at 1GB per day), unlimited voice calls, videos calls and SMS. But from April 1, these services will be paid. Enter Reliance Jio Prime membership.

The charge: Rs 99 to be paid to enjoy the "Jio Prime Offer." The membership is valid till March 31, 2018, although Reliance has not specified if users will have to continue this after the period is over.

Once you've paid the Rs 99 yearly fee, your Reliance Jio number will continue to offer the same services under the Happy New Year Offer, but there's a Rs 303 monthly cost involved. Essentially for this Rs 303 per month you will get unlimited voice, video calling services with 1GB high-speed daily data. Post the FUP limit of 1GB, speed will reduce to 128 Kbps for the day.

Reliance Jio Prime membership. The charge: Rs 99 to be paid to enjoy the "Jio Prime Offer." (Source: PTI)

Basically customers are getting 30GB for the month at Rs 303, which is a lot if you consider that a majority of users are relying on Jio as their primary data connection. Additionally users will get unlimited data between 2 am to 5 am. Users will get to enjoy all Jio premium apps free for one year, but remember data consumed on these apps is deducted from your regular data balance.

Users need to sign up before March 31 to get the benefits of Reliance Jio Prime membership.

Also read: Reliance Jio Prime membership: Why you will need to switch before March 31

But Jio is not the only one offering unlimited calling, extra data benefits to its customers. Here's a look at plans from rival Airtel, Vodafone, and Idea Cellular. Technically no other player is offering 1GB data per day to its users, but free calling has become common across telecom players.

Airtel

Airtel's 'myplan Infinity' plans for postpaid users offers free unlimited calling starting at Rs 799, but only 100 local + STD messages per day and a limit of 2GB of 3G/4G data the month. These plans also come with free subscription to Wynk Music + Wynk Movies.

On the prepaid side, Airtel users can get a Rs 345 recharge, and then they will be able to make unlimited calls to any network.

Then there's the Rs 1,199 plan, which has similar benefits except it has a higher 5GB data limit and this applies for 3G and 4G. The Rs 1,599 plan offers 10GB of 3G/4G data, while there's a Rs 1,999 plan with 15GB of 3G/4G data. Finally the Rs 2,999 plan gives 30GB of 3G/4G data with similar free voice calls, 100 local+STD messages etc.

On the prepaid side, Airtel users can get a Rs 345 recharge, and then they will be able to make unlimited calls to any network, but the data limit is stingy at 1GB of 4G data for 28 days. Airtel also has a smaller Rs 145 recharge pack which offers unlimited free voice calls to any network, but only 300MB 4G data free for 28 days.

Read more: Mukesh Ambani: Calls within India to be free, Jio tariff plans to roll out from April 1

Vodafone

Vodafone Red plans from Rs 1,699 offer unlimited calling for postpaid users. The Rs 1,699 plan include unlimited free (local + STD) calls, free incoming on roaming, 500 (local + STD) messages and 12GB of data. It is followed by Rs 1,999 plan with similar details, except it has 16GB of data.

Vodafone Red plans starting at Rs 1,699 offer unlimited calling for postpaid users. (Source: Reuters)

Vodafone's Rs 1,299 plan offers only 3000 minutes of local + STD calling and around 8GB of data.

On the prepaid side, there are recharges above Rs 144 which offer free roaming on Vodafone network and 50 MB free data. There's also a Rs 344 prepaid recharge that has unlimited calls, roaming on all mobile networks and 300 MB free data for 3G handset users and 1 GB data for 4G handset users. The daily data part is still less than what Reliance Jio offers under the Prime membership.

Idea Cellular

Idea's unlimited calling plans come with just 3G data; there's no 4G bundled along as with the other operators. Idea Cellular's Rs 1,199 plan gives users unlimited local + STD calling, unlimited free calling on roaming, 5GB of 3G data and 3000 local + national SMS. There's a Rs 1,599 plan that offers the same deal, but with 10GB of 3G data.

So which is the better plan? 

If Reliance Jio has become your primary data supply, then it makes sense to get the Jio Prime membership for the 1GB data per day at Rs 303 per month. But remember Jio is 4G VoLTE only, and your phone needs to have the relevant bands supported for you to enjoy the full benefits of these services.

Players like Vodafone, Airtel, Idea Cellular have implemented the free voice-calling bit in some most of their plans, but the data part is still less compared to what Reliance Jio is giving under Prime. However, don't be surprised if the older players launch some new lucrative data plans soon to counter Jio Prime.

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