Bharti Airtel has now tweaked its Rs. 149 plan that comes with a 28-day validity and offers 1GB of data and 100 SMSes per day alongside unlimited voice-calling with free national roaming. The change, according to TelecomTalk, was quietly implemented last week, before which, the unlimited voice calling was limited to the company’s own network. Which meant, you had to pay more to call non-Airtel numbers.
With the new tweak, the plan now is in a better place to take on Reliance Jio’s Rs. 149 STV (special tariff voucher) that offers 1.5GB of daily data alongside the exact same voice and SMS benefits for the exact same duration. It is worth noting, though, that the recharge voucher is only available in select circles as of now, although, the company might introduce it nationwide in the coming days.
The entry of Reliance Jio in the Indian telecom sector has done wonders to the country’s mobile market, bringing affordable, high-speed data to the mainstream population. For a country starved of pocket-friendly options not so long ago, it’s truly amazing what one single company has been able to do by offering its services at prices people can actually afford.
With the pricing wars only expected to heat up in the coming months, it will be interesting to see how some of the incumbents retain customers, given the sheer goodwill the Mukesh Ambani-led company has earned in the market and among buyers. Despite rivals cutting tariff, Jio continues to be the most affordable option, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon.
