India’s third largest telecom operator Idea Cellular is reportedly planning to launch as many as three promotional offers, including unlimited free data offer through certain data packs, according to a report by Moneycontrol. The offer may be available only to 4G users and will come with a validity of 1-1.5 years.
Idea is also planning to launch free international incoming calls on a down payment as well, and it may also bring offers with up to 15% less charge on outgoing international calls. Besides, it may introduce loyalty plans for customers, the report said.
Bharti Airtel has already launched promotional 4G data offers of its existing and new customers, aimed at countering Reliance Jio's free offer as well as increasing its 4G user base in the country. Idea's new move would be aimed at countering Jio's threat and Airtel’s free data schemes.
Airtel, which is the leading telco by users, recently announced a special offer under which, it will offer free data for 12 months, worth up to Rs 9000, to customers who switch to Airtel 4G. It also started offering 3GB of free data for both prepaid and postpaid customers.
Its prepaid customers on recharge of Rs 345 will get unlimited local and STD calls to any network in India as well as 1GB fixed data per monthly cycle. In a statement issued earlier this week, Airtel had said that its postpaid customers opting for any MyPlan Infinity plan can also get 3GB free data along with similar benefits as that of prepaid users.
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio recently extended its free services through Happy New Year offer that provides unlimited voice calls and 1 GB per day data, along with unlimited video call, SMS and access to Jio apps till March 31, 2017. Jio, which has already crossed 60 million customers mark, is now aiming to garner 100 million customers by the end of the ongoing fiscal year.
