Reliance Jio has discontinued its entry-level ₹249 plan (1 GB/day, 28 days) effective August 18, forcing subscribers to upgrade to higher packs. Now, Jio’s base prepaid option begins at ₹299 for 1.5 GB/day, with the ₹349 pack offering 2 GB/day for 28 days. This shift leaves no low-data, affordable plans on its site.
Airtel and Vodafone Idea Plans
Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) currently align their entry-level packs with Jio’s new pricing structure:
- Airtel: ₹299 (1 GB/day, 28 days), ₹349 (1.5 GB/day, 28 days)
- Vi: ₹299 (1 GB/day, 28 days), ₹349 (1.5 GB/day, 28 days), ₹408 (2 GB/day, 28 days)
Both players may soon review tariffs, as Airtel’s vice chairman Gopal Vittal recently hinted at further “tariff repair” to sustain returns.
BSNL Emerges as a Value Option
In sharp contrast, BSNL’s prepaid packs are far cheaper. In the Western Uttar Pradesh region, BSNL offers:
- ₹141 pack: 1.5 GB/day, 30 days
- ₹148 pack: 2.2 GB/day, 30 days
That makes BSNL’s 1.5 GB/day plan 52% cheaper than Jio, Airtel, and Vi’s ₹299 entry packs, offering significant savings for budget-conscious users.
Telecom Battle Heats Up
Jio and Airtel continue to dominate India’s telecom sector, eating into Vodafone Idea’s shrinking subscriber base. TRAI data shows Jio added 1.9 million subscribers in June 2025, Airtel gained 763,482, while Vi lost 217,816. Airtel’s revenue market share touched 40% in FY25, supported by premiumisation and tariff hikes.
Meanwhile, Jio’s move to scrap its cheapest plan boosted Reliance Industries’ stock, which rose 2.84% the following day.
