In the telecom industry, the most competitive segment happens to be prepaid. These prepaid recharges have also been the host to the brutal data tariff war waged by the latest telecom entrant in the industry, Reliance Jio. However, there have been many tides and waves since the data tariff war ended, and things are starting to shift shapes in the industry again. The latest move by Reliance Jio on introducing the IUC cost on its prepaid plans has definitely changed a lot of things, including the prepaid portfolio of Reliance Jio. This means that there is also now a disbalance between the pricing and the benefits in the prepaid plans by other telecom operators and the ones being offered by Reliance Jio. With that being said, the prepaid plans under the Rs 200 range are some of the most picked ones by the subscribers, and Reliance Jio had the lead on these plans a while ago, But, the new moves in action by the Mukesh Ambani led telecom operators, things have changed a little. Here is a comparison between prepaid plans under Rs 200 offering 1.5GB data per day.
Curious Case of Reliance Jio Rs 149 Prepaid Plan
Firstly, we would be taking up the curious case of the Reliance Jio Rs 149 prepaid plan which offers 24 days validity, and now it comes with bundled non-Jio FUP minutes as well. Previously, this plan was priced higher and used to provide more validity of 28 days. But, now the prepaid plan of Rs 149 offers 24 days of validity with 1.5GB daily data, unlimited calling on Jio to Jio network and 300 minutes of non-Jio calls. The subscribers also get a complimentary subscription to Reliance Jio applications.
Now it is worth noting, that although this plan comes with reduced validity and less pricing, it stacks up against the other prepaid plans, like the ones from Bharti Airtel.
Bharti Airtel Acing the Comparison With Additional Benefits
Bharti Airtel offers a prepaid plan for Rs 199 which offers 1.5GB data per day, and it comes with 28 days validity. Not only this, but the subscribers also enjoy access to unlimited calls, 100 SMS per day and many additional benefits too. This prepaid plan by Bharti Airtel offers access to Wynk Music, Airtel Xstream App, Norton Mobile Security for a year, access to Shaw Academy courses for four weeks, and 100% cashback on recharges with two years validity.
Vodafone Following On Similar Footsteps
Vodafone has also got a similar plan in its portfolio for the prepaid subscribers, wherein they would be able to to get 28 days of validity with 1.5GB daily data along with unlimited calling and 100 SMS per day. The subscribers will also be able to enjoy access to the Vodafone Play app, and this prepaid plan would also set them back by Rs 199.
Reliance Jio Prepaid Plans Pitted Against Others: Verdict
Now coming to the comparison of these plans, the major point of difference between these plans happens to be the validity and the matter of IUC minutes. While Bharti Airtel’s offering is the best one by far in the portfolio considering the add-ons, and data benefit which it offers, Reliance Jio’s prepaid plan has the advantage of pricing. There is no doubt that the Rs 149 prepaid plan is priced aggressively, but it also comes with only 24 days of validity which is four days shorter than the competing plans. Lastly, there is the question of IUC charges, which mean that if you run out of the 300 minutes provided in the plans, then you would have to recharge with any one of the talk time vouchers being provided by Reliance Jio. So overall, if you have less calling business to other telecom operators, then the Reliance Jio prepaid plan would win this match, else the Bharti Airtel prepaid plan of Rs 199 aces the test.
