Jio Effect: BSNL Launches Post-Paid Plans With 500% More Data; Idea Too Launches 2GB/Day Plans

After Jio announced the bumper conversion of free into paid users, with numbers hovering at 60%, and free 3 more months of free data and calling, rivals are now scrambling to match their offers, in order to satisfy their users.

While BSNL has launched several new plans for their Post Paid users, which is now offering as much as 500% more data.

Meanwhile Idea Cellular has launched Jio-like plans which offer 1 GB to 6 GB per day, along with free voice calling to any number.

It seems every rival of Jio is now either trying to become like Jio and offer a plan which is deemed better than Jio.

The end-user is of course, spoilt with choices now.

BSNL: 500% More Data In Post-Paid Accounts

As a special 90-day only campaign, BSNL has launched several new initiatives for their post-paid users. These changes have been made in their existing post-paid plans, which are: Plan-99, 225, 325, 525, and Plan-725.

These are the major changes:

• Plan 99: There used to be no data in this plan. But now, 250 MB of 2G/3G data has been included.
• Plan 225: This plan now offers 1000 MB, compared to 200 MB before
• Plan 325: Now get 2000 MB, in-place of 250 MB which was offered before.
• Plan 525: Users will now get 3000 MB, instead of 500 MB
• Plan 725: Get 5000 MB, instead of 1000 MB. Thus, 500% more data is now included in this plan.

In a statement, BSNL said, “The implementation of the tariff is to be made in accordance with 43rd Amendment of Telecom Tariff Order and orders/guidelines/clarifications issued by TRAI from time to time,”

After 90 days, these plans would be re-edited, as per the prevailing market situation.

Besides, BSNL is also offering 10 GB of data per day, for a subscription of Rs 249 per month. However, there is no free calling in this plan, and the speed has been capped at 2 Mbps.

Idea Too Jumps Into 2GB Per Day Plan

Meanwhile Idea Cellular has re-launched Jio-like plans for their post-paid and pre-paid users.

Prepaid users of Idea Cellular can now 1 GB per day data along with unlimited calling for Rs 348 per month. This is very similar to Jio’s 1 GB per day plan for Rs 303.

Besides, there is a new Rs 148 per month plan, which will offer local and STD calls to anywhere in India, along with 50 MB of data. 4G users, under the same plan, can get 300 MB of data in a month.

For their post-paid users, Idea has revamped their existing plans, and a for a period of three months, have decided to launch special data centric plans.

Incoming roaming has been made free in all these special plans, by default.

Idea has announced these new plans for a period of 6 months, after which, plans would be revised based on market (read Jio’s) situation.

Interestingly, these new plans by Idea are specific to only Idea customers, and there is no linking with Vodafone’s plans. This means that Idea and Vodafone subscribers would be treated differently as of now, and the consolidation of these two telecom majors will take some more time.

Meanwhile, in the statement issued by COAI, it was revealed that telecom players in India will continue to bleed due to Jio’s tsunami.

COAI director general Rajan Mathews said, “The industry will continue to bleed under this pricing, and there is the risk of cascading impact on the banks, government (accruals from licence fee and spectrum payments made by telcos), and equipment manufacturers,”

Will these new plans by BSNL and Idea stop the migration towards Jio Prime? Do let us know by commenting right here!