Reliance Jio effect: Vodafone offering up to 67pc more data

Following in the footsteps of telecom operators Airtel and Idea Cellular, Vodafone has also come out with promotional schemes offering up to 67 percent more data of 2G, 3G, and 4G services at same price during this month.

“Under the revised data benefits, the 3GB 3G/4G monthly recharge pack, which was earlier priced at approximately Rs650 will now offer 5 GB data, an increase of 67 percent,” Vodafone said in a statement.

The Rs 449 tariff plan for 3G/4G that offered 2 GB data will now offer 50 percent more by increasing the data benefit to 3 GB and the Rs 999 3G/4G pack will now offer 10 GB data, which is 54 percent more benefits.

“It will also make the Internet more affordable for customers who use mobile internet in a limited way and encourage first-time users to come online,” Vodafone said in a statement.

A couple of weeks back Airtel and Idea had introduced similar data-rich plans to take on MukeshAmbani’s Reliance Jio.

“The Rs39 2G sachet pack with 5-day validity now offers 225MB data compared to 160 MB, an increase of 41 percent, while the Rs 12 3G/4G sachet pack with 1-day validity now offers 50 MB data vs 30MB, an increase of 67 percent,” Vodafone said.

“With Vodafone Delights offering more data, we want our several million customers to enjoy this network experience to the fullest. We are confident that this move of offering up to 67 percent additional data benefit on select pre-paid packs, will facilitate in faster adoption of data,” Vodafone India, Director-Commercial, Sandeep Kataria said.

Incumbents have triggered data war to ward off the threat from Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Jio which slashed the price of 4G LYF handsets by 25 per cent to Rs 2,999.

The LYF handset comes bundled with free Jio SIM. Reliance Jio is offering 90 days of free unlimited 4G mobile internet and voice calling in the SIM cards.

As per industry experts, Jio, which has 1.5 million customers in its beta tests, may offer high-speed data at a very low price or may bundle free voice calls to lure users in the world’s second-largest smartphone market.