After revising the data packs, Idea Cellular now has revised voice rate cutters or STV for Kerala circle. With the new tariff revision, Idea Cellular has revised its Idea to Idea Voice Special Tariff Voucher. The validity of existing STVs has been increased, and new STVs with increased benefits are being introduced.
This revision has come at a time when the operator is trying to counter Jio which is already offering unlimited voice calls to beta testers & might offer unlimited voice calls after commercial launch. Currently, among the top 3 GSM operators, Idea has the maximum percentage of voice only customers on their network, so if Jio announces unlimited voice calls it would be a loss for Idea Cellular who relies mostly on voice-only customers. The revised rates would be beneficial for the operator as people would spend more on data resulting in increased data revenue for the company.
On Net calling packs:
Idea has added extra validity to most of the on net calling packs in Kerala. Rs 99 which earlier offered Idea to Idea calls at 20p/min has been increased to 45 days from existing 28 days. Similarly, STV of Rs 119 which used to offer Idea to Idea calls at 15 p/min would now offer validity of 45 days instead of earlier benefits for 28 days. Similarly, for short validity period, the Aditya Birla owned operator added a new STV priced at Rs 82 & 62. For more information, check the chart embedded below.
| Details of revised on net Idea STV packs | |||
| MRP | Benefits | Old Validity (Days) | New Validity (Days) |
| Rs 99 | Local Idea calls @ 20p/min | 28 | 45 |
| Rs 119 | Local Idea calls @ 15p/min | 28 | 45 |
| Rs 62 | Local Idea calls @ 20p/min | #New Pack | 28 |
| Rs 82 | Local Idea calls @ 15p/min | #New Pack | 28 |
| * For Kerala circle | |||
Local Calling Packs:
The validity of most of the local calling packs got increased though the calling rates have remained same. STV of Rs 88, 79 & 67 now got extended validity up to 7-14 days. While the company cuts down price of popular STV 93 to Rs 84, keeping the benefits same as 30p/min calling rate for local mobile numbers with a validity of 28 days.
| Details of revised Local Idea STV packs | |||
| MRP | Benefits | Old Validity (Days) | New Validity (Days) |
| Rs 67 | Local mobile calls @40p/min | 28 | 40 |
| Rs 79 | Local mobile calls @35p/min | 28 | 35 |
| Rs 88 | All Local calls @ 40p/min | 28 | 42 |
| #New Local Calling Pack | |||
| Benefits | Old Price | New Price | Changes |
| Local mobile calls @ 30p/min | Rs 93 | Rs 84 | -10% |
STD Packs:
Those who make lots of STD calls can now enjoy cheaper calling rates with Idea's new STV Rs 68 which offers STD calls at only 25p/min that too for 35 days. Rs 58 which used to offer STD rates at 30p/min earlier, would now offer lower rates at only 25p/min. However, the validity remains unchanged.
The price cuts though offering more validity in an existing pack in a circle like Kerala where Idea Cellular has the maximum customer base than other operators shows that Idea would extend the tariff revision in other circles too.
Dear readers, do you think the price cut indicates another tariff war between operators who have been hiking voice rates since 2012 after Supreme Court's verdict to quash 122 licences? Share your views through comments.
