Despite the fact that 4G LTE is designed for providing high-speed data at affordable rates, Indian telecom operators are charging 4G similar to that of 3G data packs.
According to a report on Telecom Talk, Reliance Communications will be launching its 4G internet packs starting at Rs. 255 for 1 GB pack. The tariff plans have been revealed Reliance WiPod users and for its mobile phone users as well.
Let me remind you that RCom still hasn’t announced any official date for the launch of its 4G services, and that its loyal CDMA customers are having a tough time during CDMA to GSM migration,
RCom 4G Data Packs
Reliance Communications WiPod users will get 1 GB extra 4G data for all packs above Rs. 255 as a promotional offer till 30 June 2016.
The cheapest high-volume 4G data pack (for WiPod and Mobile users) comes with 1 GB data and costs Rs. 95 having a validity of 2 days. All other 4G data packs have a validity of 28 days and offer 1 GB, 2 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 7 GB, and 10 GB data with price starting from Rs. 255 to Rs. 1,349.
Mobile users would also get same 4G data packs but without any extra data!
RCom 4G Call & SMS Packs
Please note that RCom 4G doesn’t support voice and the mobile phones would have to fall back to either 3G or 2G technology for making voice calls and sending SMSs.
The telco is offering similar calling and SMS packs to its 4G users as its GSM subscribers.
Rs. 78 minutes pack comes with 170 local minutes to any network and has a validity of 28 days. On the other hand, Rs. 24 STD rate cutter packs would offer calls at 25p/min.
The unlimited calling packs are priced at Rs. 68 and Rs. 88 offering unlimited local R2R calls for 14 days and 28 days respectively, with a cap of 1,50,000 seconds.
The ‘All Call Pack’ offers calls @ 30p/min to any number in the country and is priced at Rs. 37 for a validity of 28 days.
The company has also announced Rs. 14 SMS pack offering 130 SMSs (Local + National) having a validity of 8 days.
The company is also offering full talktime and extra-talktime packs offering up to Rs. 550 worth of talktime on a pack of Rs. 500.
We really think that RCom has priced these packs far too steeply than it should have considering the fact that it was offering 1.5 GB EvDo (similar to 3G) for Rs. 123 along with a validity of 28 days to its CDMA customers. Also RCom would be launching its 4G services on the 850 MHz band, and most of the 4G phones launched 6 month back do not support this band.
So you either have to get a new 4G phone supporting LTE Band #5 (850 MHz) or switch to any other GSM operator which anyway offer similar 4G or 3G data plans.
We are still waiting to try out Reliance Communications’ 4G internet. In case you have the chance to experience RCom 4G, then please share your thoughts with us.
Via: Telecom Talk