Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is the only telecom operator in India right now to offer competitive prepaid plans. For example, it has a 1GB daily data plan with 30 days validity for just over Rs 150. After the tariff hike that happened in December 2019, apart from Reliance Jio, other telcos (Airtel and Vodafone Idea) are offering 1GB of daily data with 28 days validity at Rs 219. Jio has a similar plan, in fact, a better plan with 1.5GB daily data at just Rs 199. Beating Reliance Jio is BSNL which has a Rs 153 recharge with 1GB daily data benefit. Besides the plans priced under Rs 200, BSNL also has a Rs 485 prepaid recharge with 90 days validity- something no other telco is offering right now. The Rs 485 BSNL prepaid plan comes with 1.5GB daily data and unlimited voice calling benefits.
BSNL Rs 485 Prepaid Recharge: Benefits Detailed
BSNL's Rs 485 plan is an unlimited combo offering with 1.5GB daily data, unlimited voice calling to any network without any FUP limit and 100 SMSes per day benefits. As BSNL revised recently, all its unlimited combo plans come with unlimited calling benefit without any FUP limit. Earlier, BSNL had a FUP limit of 250 minutes per day on every prepaid and postpaid plan, but that has changed now to stay competitive in the industry.
Data speeds will be reduced to 40 Kbps after the daily 1.5GB limit. The validity of the plan is 90 days from the date of recharge. For the unaware, private telcos are providing prepaid plans with 84 days validity, but BSNL's plan offers additional six days of validity.
In contrast, Bharti Airtel Rs 598 prepaid plan comes with 1.5GB daily data for 84 days, whereas Vi has a similarly priced plan. Jio's 1.5GB data per day plan costs Rs 555 and comes with 84 days validity. Time and again, BSNL is beating the private telecom operators, especially in the tariff plans department. The telco wasn't able to add many subscribers in recent months despite such aggressive tariff plans.
The major reason behind BSNL not adding subscribers in a large number is the lack of 4G services. The government is expected to allocate required 4G spectrum to BSNL in the next couple of months and the telco will roll out high-speed 4G services with affordable 4G plans across all the 22 telecom circles. And yes, the voice calling benefit offered by BSNL PV 485 applies even to Mumbai and Delhi telecom circles where MTNL operates.
