With the entry of Reliance Jio to the postpaid segment, telcos were scared that the new entrant will bring down their ARPU down even more. The Mukesh Ambani-led Jio launched a lone postpaid plan of Rs 199 offering 25GB of data (no carry forward option), unlimited voice calling and 100 SMS per day for a month. Months later, UK-based Vodafone revised its RED range of postpaid plans to match Jio's basic postpaid plan. To take on the JioPostpaid plan of Rs 199, Vodafone introduced a postpaid plan of Rs 299 with 20GB of data (carry forward option available), unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per month. Surely, the Rs 299 plan doesn't compare with Vodafone's other RED postpaid plans such as Rs 399, Rs 499 and others because they ship with one-year of free Amazon Prime subscription, Netflix subscription and more. But the RED Basic postpaid plan of Rs 299 takes on Jio's plan of Rs 199, here's how.
Unlimited Voice Calling
The RED Basic postpaid plan from Vodafone offers unlimited local, STD and national roaming calls for the entire rental period. Having said that, the best part of this postpaid plan is the voice calls are unlimited, and there's no limit for the voice calls as Vodafone has set for prepaid users. For the unaware, Vodafone is limiting the voice calls on its prepaid network at 250 minutes per day and 1000 minutes per week. Jio is also offering unlimited voice calls without any FUP limit within India.
20GB Data With Carry Forward Option
Moving onto other benefits, the RED Basic plan provides a user with 20GB of data along with carry-forward option. That said, a user can carry forward up to a maximum of 50GB data under this plan. Jio's Rs 199 postpaid plan ships with 25GB of 4G data, but it misses out on Data Carry Forward feature, unfortunately.
100 Local+STD SMS Benefit
It also gives 100 SMSes and do make a note that the SMS benefit is not applicable to numbers in other circles. Other Vodafone plans of Rs 399 and Rs 499 does offer SMS benefits even on national roaming. The RED Basic postpaid plan does not offer any voice calling minutes to international roaming.
Vodafone Play Subscription
As mentioned above, other benefits such as free Amazon Prime subscription, Netflix subscription, RED Hot Deals, Mobile Shield-Device Protection and Bill Guarantee are not applicable to this Vodafone postpaid plan. Jio is also providing free access to its services such as JioMusic, JioCinema, JioTV and so on.
Vodafone RED Together
Nevertheless, this plan is eligible for Vodafone RED Together scheme, under which the telco is giving 20% discount on the final billing every month.
