Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea (Vi), three major private telecom operators in India, have rolled out their updated voice and SMS-only prepaid plans in line with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) tariff mandate. Before diving into the details of these plans, let’s take a quick look at the sequence of events leading up to these changes. Airtel was the first to announce its revised plans, followed by Jio, with Vi launching theirs last. Initially, Vi introduced only a single plan. Subsequently, Airtel adjusted the pricing of two of its plans, and the following day, Jio also reduced the pricing for two of its plans. Shortly after, Vi withdrew its previously launched 270-day validity plan and introduced two new voice and SMS-only plans. Now that we have a clear timeline of events, let’s explore the specifics of these updated plans.
Airtel Voice and SMS-Only Plans
Airtel Rs 469 Plan – 84 Days
Airtel’s entry-level voice and SMS-only plan starts at Rs 469 and offers unlimited voice calls, 900 SMS, with 84 days validity. Additional benefits include a 3-month Apollo 24/7 Circle Membership at no cost and free Hello tunes. The plan comes at an effective price of around Rs 5.50 per day.
Airtel Rs 1849 Plan – 365 Days
Airtel’s Rs 1849 plan offers unlimited voice calls and 3,600 SMS with 365 days validity. Additional benefits include a 3-month Apollo 24/7 Circle Membership at no cost and free Hello tunes. This yearly plan comes at an effective price of around Rs 5 per day.
Reliance Jio Voice and SMS-Only Plans
Jio Rs 448 Plan – 84 Days
Jio’s entry-level voice and SMS-only plan is priced at Rs 448. This plan offers unlimited voice calls and 1,000 SMS, with a validity of 84 days. Additional subscription benefits include access to Jio Apps such as JioTV, JioCinema (non-premium), and JioCloud. The effective cost of the plan works out to approximately Rs 5.30 per day.
Jio Rs 1748 Plan – 336 Days
Jio’s near-yearly voice and SMS-only plan is priced at Rs 1,748. The plan provides unlimited voice calls and 3,600 SMS with a validity of 336 days. Additional benefits include access to Jio Apps such as JioTV, JioCinema (non-premium), and JioCloud. The long-term plan comes at an effective price of around Rs 5.20 per day.
Both of the above plans are labelled as ‘Value’ plans by Jio.
Vodafone Idea Voice and SMS-Only Plans
Vi Rs 470 Plan – 84 Days
Vodafone Idea’s entry-level voice and SMS-only prepaid plan is priced at Rs 470. This newly launched plan offers unlimited voice calls and 900 SMS, with a validity of 84 days. The effective cost of this plan works out to approximately Rs 5.60 per day.
Vi Rs 1849 Plan – 365 Days
Vi’s Rs 1849 plan is a long-term option for those seeking a voice and SMS-only plan. It offers unlimited voice calls and 3,600 SMS, with a validity of 365 days. The plan comes at an effective price of around Rs 5 per day.
Conclusion
These plans are ideal for those who need a secondary or alternative number on their basic or dual-SIM phones. If you’re looking for voice services or wish to retain a secondary number, these plans could be a good recharge option going forward. The launch of these plans sends a clear message to consumers that tariffs are unlikely to decrease, given the significant investments in telecom infrastructure needed to deploy high-speed networks.