BSNL’s Masterly Gameplan To Counter Jio: Free Lifetime Voice Calls & Cheaper Than Jio Data Tariffs
State run BSNL has decided to take on the tsunami unleashed by Reliance Jio in a massive way. Igniting a new level of telecom war, BSNL has decided to offer free lifetime voice calls for all their customers.
However, unlike Jio’s free voice calls, which are limited to only 4G users, BSNL’s free voice calls are targeted for 2G and 3G customers, which sets the stage on fire, when it comes to tariff war.
Besides, BSNL is also planning to offer cheaper data than Reliance Jio: as per reports coming in, data offered by BSNL would be atleast Rs 2-4 cheaper than what Jio is offering.
These plans would be launched from January, 2017, and telecom circle in India is right now abuzz with the possibilities.
This proves that BSNL is keeping a tab on the pulse of the market, and is not accepting Jio’s unchallenged dominance.
BSNL chairman and managing director Anupam Shrivastava said, “We are closely observing the market as well as Jio’s performance. We will also come up with lifetime free-voice plans from the new year as part of fresh offerings,”
BSNL has devised the plans in such a manner that their customers can now pay less than Rs 149 per month, which is the entry level plan for Jio customers on 4G network.
By unveiling such dirt cheap plans, that too for 2G and 3G customers, BSNL has directly challenged Jio’s much hyped low cost free voice calls plans, and is all set to attract a new set of customers who are still years away from 4G network.
How Will BSNL Provide Free Voice Calls?
There is a catch in BSNL’s newest salvo, though; and strategy wise, it is a master-stroke.
The new free lifetime voice calls and cheap data would be rolled out only for those customers who have installed BSNL’s broadband services at home; and the free voice calls would be routed via home broadband connection and used for providing free mobile calls.
Earlier this month, BSNL has offered unlimited broadband at Rs 249 per month, and this new plan perfectly compliments the previous offer.
Hence, the free calls would be data based, almost like VoLTE based free voice calls which Jio offers.
But how can BSNL offer consistent voice calls, supported by 2G network is the question, which no one has any answer.
BSNL’s Broadband Experience: A Personal Experience
I have been using BSNL’s broadband connection for the last few weeks, and based on the experience of data speed and connectivity, it is clear that a lot needs to be achieved.
Based on phone lines, the connection suddenly disappears when there is a storm or high winds or rain, and it is restored only when the wind stops.
Speed is more or less in the range of 1-2 Mbps, although the plan promises 4 Mbps speed, and as per the technician who had come to install the broadband, 1-2 Mbps is ‘realistic expectations’ from BSNL, under the current infrastructure.
Right now, a heavily funded ‘startup’ like Jio is not able to provide a seamless experience for their users as 10 crore calls are dropped daily on its network.
The customer is not concerned whether it’s a telecom war or a technical issue: the service being experienced is bad. No matter if the calls are free; if the customer is not able to even talk, then what is the use of such free and cheap offers.
Having said that, it is indeed doubtful how BSNL is going to keep up the promises, and deliver seamless connectivity on the backbone of their crumbling network.
Earth shattering promises should be backed by a even better infrastructure and a mechanism to deliver those promises.
If you are a BSNL broadband user, then do share your feedback and views on their newest promise to deliver free voice calls, by commenting right here.
Sir, can i know .bsnl is liftime voice call free at any network any mobile phone .this is true or No .
Tell me something about this.
BSNL is horrible. All cream technical engineers and good staff left as they were taken by pvt players by offering them 8 to 10 times salary . Now it is left with only lineman promoted SDO who does it understand anything of technological aspect of telecom. If u lodge complaint of noisy line simply they come lift receiver and says it is on , we are able to talk. Even do not have any instruments to check signal strength nor signal to noise ratio. They believe wire in exposed condition is best , any complaint simply cut it strip it and twist it whether there are three joints in dropwire or junction box end. I am paying through my nose of 775 rupees per month and get hardly 0.36 Mbps if lucky. Tweeted to highest authorities but problem remain unsolved. I tried other cable net but the situation also same. Finally shifted to Jio and at least getting broadband at a decent speed of at least 3mbps. Jio will f*** and close all these incompetent companies.
I was a BSNL customer for 5 year. Than Mnp wih Airtel due to poor coverage of BSNL.if BSNL promiss to good service,i will join BSNL,S GHAR VAPSI ABHIYAN
I am using BSNL broadband in Guwahati. The speed is quite good and availability is exceedingly well. During last 8 month only 2 times it was down.
I am having broadband connection for the last 5 years i had problems in the beginning but everything seems to be set right. Even complaints are speedily attended. I am sure the new venture will succeed. K Ramanujan
Recently after several months of no use, I recharged a BSNL SIM (Gaya region) with a small data plan to check if its service has improved. There is no improvement. Its speed is less than 1 mbps. The main problem is that its signal sometimes just disappears for several minutes. I was forced to go back to Aircel that has improved speed but charges more than BSNL. Data charges of BSNL are cheapest but what is the use of it if internet simply does not work.
That’s what ordinary people on BSNL FREE FREE CaLL hand and be able to deliver 2G 3G NETWORK. However, the tree H JIO tie the hands of people a lot of hands, but the common people, especially people who are very worried that they will not use 4G MOBILE shot and if ordinary people into the hands of ordinary people BSNL BSNL’s happy to be won
I have experience of Airtel 3G, Vodafone 3G, Reliance 3G, Aircel 3G and latest Jio 4G. I live at Habra, West Bengal and work at Birati, Kolkata-51. Airtel and Vodafone give the experience the worst. Gio 4G’s download speed (movie download or software download) remains below 200 kbps. Is it 4G? I expect it will recover soon. Aircel and Reliance 3G are comparatively better. At present Aircel is the best for my Lenovo vibe p1.
@bsnl, dont go with the jio wave announcing new plans, challenging them. 1st of all maintain all the things u have started earlier. phone lines dont work properly nor the broadband.
I do not see any benefits here if BSNL promises cheap dirt plans and almost free, if they are not even able to consume new customers.
Me individually trying to get a BSNL SIM and a BSNL Broadband along with telephone line for last 2 years but here I am still there where started first. Though they have started UDAAN and numerous other schemes but UNABLE TO PROVIDE NEW CONNECTIONS what the hell.
Not a single mobile store has BSNL sims nor anyone knows how to get broadband connection from them. Whereas you search once on internet I want Airtel broaband and you will be bomabarded with calls from Airtel executives.
And to impact the blast to the loudest, I live in Bangalore. What do you say :P :P :P
BSNL expects you to take time out to visit the exchange for everything. That has to change.
Airtel people are most intelligent bastards in INDIA……. don’t relay on them……. got it