India's largest telecom operator, Reliance Jio, has launched Voice and SMS-only prepaid plans, as mandated by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). This appears to be a tariff adjustment by Jio, indicating that plans are unlikely to become cheaper in the future. These new plans are in response to TRAI's recent directive that telecom operators introduce separate Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) for voice and SMS, allowing consumers to pay only for the services they need. The overall aim is to benefit specific consumer segments, particularly the elderly and those in rural areas. Here are the newly launched prepaid plans from Jio:
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Jio Value Rs 458 Voice-Only Plan
The entry-level Voice and SMS-only plan from Jio starts at Rs 458. This plan includes unlimited voice calls and 1,000 SMS, all with a validity of 84 days. Additional subscription benefits include access to Jio Apps, such as JioTV, JioCinema (non-premium), and JioCloud. Maybe Jio bundled these app benefits with the intention that users would use these subscriptions on Wi-Fi or with Data packs. Jio categorises this plan under its 'Value' offerings.
Previously, the plan was priced at Rs 479 and included unlimited voice, 6GB data (with unlimited data at 64 Kbps after the limit), and 1,000 SMS for 84 days. The updated plan is Rs 21 cheaper but removes the data component, while retaining the voice, SMS and app subscription benefits.
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Jio Value Rs 1,958 Voice-Only Plan
The yearly Voice and SMS-only plan from Jio now costs Rs 1,958. It offers a full 365 days of validity, unlimited voice calls, and 3,600 SMS. Additional benefits include access to Jio Apps, such as JioTV, JioCinema (non-premium), and JioCloud. Jio categorises this plan under its 'Value' offerings.
Previously, this plan was priced at Rs 1,899 and provided 336 days of validity, unlimited voice calls, 3,600 SMS, 6GB of data, and unlimited data at 64 Kbps after exceeding the high-speed limit. With the updated plan, Jio has increased the price by Rs 59, removed the data component, and extended the validity by 29 days, retaining the voice, SMS and App benefits.
Also Read: Jio Prepaid Data Packs and Benefits in January 2025 Detailed
Conclusion
Previously, Jio offered three plans under its 'Value' plan category. However, with this revision, Jio now offers only two plans without data benefits. The third 'Value' plan, priced at Rs 189, which included unlimited voice, 300 SMS, and 2GB of data, has been discontinued. Jio subscribers can use Jio's data packs if they need additional data on top of these Voice and SMS-only plans. These are the updates as of this writing. We will provide further updates if there are any additional changes to Jio's plans.
