Idea Cellular Puts Itself Against Airtel and Reliance Jio With the Rs. 1196 Plan in the High-Data Usage Segment

Idea Cellular recently launched Rs.1196 National Special Tariff plan which offers 30GB data for 2G/3G/4G users with a validity of 84 days and free calls for Maharashtra and Goa users. For subscribers from other telecom circles the plan will differ. Non-4G handset users will also be able to make use of this pack. But roaming is free unlike Airtel’s pack of Rs.1198. Airtel’s Rs.1198 plan offers 5GB data per day for 4G users on the 4G handset with a validity of 28 days and free calls. If Airtel wishes to stay on top, it has to include free roaming too.

The number of smartphones is rapidly growing and this is translating into a large number of mobile internet users. According to Crisil India’s mobile data usage per subscriber nearly doubled to around 1.3GB per month between fiscal 2013- 2017 on faster adoption of 3G and 4G services. The per subscriber usage is expected to reach 2.3GB per user by 2022, or closer to the trend in many evolved data markets, and stabilize thereafter.

Jio’s Rs.1500 phone whose effective price is Rs.0 will be the last nail in the coffin for incumbent telecom operators if they do not match up with Jio’s plan pricing. Incumbents have few fortnights to come up with new enticing plans for the subscribers before Jio’s Rs.1500 phone reaches subscribers.

Idea is going through a lean phase like every other incumbent operator because of the predatory pricing by Reliance Jio. We hope to see all the telecom operators work in unison to give a better user experience.
Note: Please check the offer by heading over to Idea online recharge portal.