CMR India today released the India Data Cards Monthly Market Review for December 2017, and the report states that Indian Data Cards Market witnessed aggressive 151% growth in Calendar Year 2017 when compared to the previous year. During the year, Reliance Retail continued to maintain its number one position in the market as the company captured 85% of market share in CY2017, a massive rise from 38% market share in CY2016. In terms of unit shipments, it recorded a five-fold sequential growth during the period. Huawei was at second spot with a 7% market share and 29% sequential decline in CY2017.
Data card shipments from other vendors, including iBall, Intex, and Micromax registered a continuous decline. As a result, they gradually moved out of the market by the end of CY2017. Reliance Retail’s fast-moving JioFi models captured the top five spots. The company currently has three to four JioFi models in the market, and more recently the company started selling a new model- JioFi 5 via its Reliance Digital stores.
With that said, Reliance Retail has grabbed an unassailable market share in the country, and it will be impossible for other players to beat Reliance Retail this year. Also, the company recently introduced a new offer for JioFi users, which will even increase its market share in the country. Under the latest offer, Jio is offering eight months of free data services to the buyers with 1.5GB data per day on offer. However, other data card players such as Airtel (4G Hotspot device manufactured by Huawei) is not offering any such benefits.
The report also stated that 4G/LTE data cards made 99% contribution with impressive 255% sequential growth during the same period.
“Telecom service providers have been under extreme pressure after the entry of the Reliance Jio Infocomm. On the back of its continuous launch of affordable internet plans along with its MiFi devices at exceptionally competitive prices, Jio grew aggressively during the festive season in the second half of CY2017. The service provider market underwent consolidation, and witnessed exit of Uninor and Tata Indicom in CY2017,” observed Shipra Sinha, Lead Analyst, CyberMedia Research.
On the whole, Reliance Retail is enjoying a dream run with its JioFi range of devices in the country, and it will be interesting to see how other players will tackle this situation.
