Airtel, Vodafone-Idea Are Secretly Killing Talktime Plans; Forcing Users To Go For 28-Day Recharges
The good ol' talktime plans are being deliberately killed by telecom players.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Jio must be blushing now, because both Airtel and Vodafone-Idea are copying their business model of tariffs.
However, this is not a good news for regular telecom users, who don’t wish to have Internet and SMSes, and only want talk time.
Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and others had talktime plans of smaller denominations, which are getting secretly killed by them.
And guess what? The users are being forced to go for a minimum of 28-day recharges.
How fair is that?
Talktime Plans Are Being Killed: Is This Fair?
The issue was raised on Reddit, and then later on some prominent telecom blogs – Airtel, Vodafone-Idea are killing talk time plans gradually, but certainly.
We decided to investigate this issue, and found that indeed, smaller talk time plans are no-where to be seen now.
We opened MyAirtel app, and found these three plans for talk time only:
As you can see, Rs 10, Rs 1000 and Rs 5000 denominations are available; and all of these three plans are impractical to say the least.
We checked Vodafone’s plans on Paytm app, and found the same result:
Rs 10, Rs 1000 and Rs 5000.
Users Being Forced To Go For 28-Day Validity Plans?
Now, say a user who has a SIM card of Airtel or Vodafone-Idea, and wants to use it only for talking. He doesn’t use voice or SMS, and needs say Rs 100 worth of talktime, every month.
He doesn’t have any choice now. He is forced to go for either Rs 199 minimum plan for 28 days with voice calls, data (in case of Airtel), or go for combo-packs with data embedded into them.
Vodafone-Idea has Rs 209 as a minimum plan for calling and data.
The only logical explanation is that telcos want users to spend ‘atleast’ Rs 200 per month, and get unlimited calls, data and SMS with that. Increasing ARPU or Average Revenue Per User seems the only reason.
The tradition of talktime only plans is being killed, gradually, and this is indeed dicey situation for all.
Should Reliance Jio Be Blamed For This New ‘Trend’?
When Jio came into the picture, they started with voice call and Internet’s combo plans, and they haven’t deviated from their stand.
However, both Airtel and Vodafone had voice-only talk time plans before, which are being killed now. Hence, blaming Jio isn’t the right course of action.
Do you think that telecom operators should keep talk time plans along with combo-plans or talk time plans are something which no one needs now?
Do let us know, by commenting right here.
Validity period was 2028 then without our knowledge n consent being changed to 2018 this is really unethical behaviour n not the right way to do business
JIO never blocks incoming calls and still provide 60 kbps Internet even if you do not recharge. it is going to be a massive blow for airtel and Vodafone and they will loose almost every customer.