Reliance Jio's commercial launch has forced all incumbent telecom operators to modify their data plans and offer free incoming calls on roaming. Jio with its 120 million subscriber base continues to change the norm of this industry but operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and even state-owned BSNL are offering a tough resistance. Now, Aircel is also joining the fray with its own unlimited data plan to counter Jio.
In response to Jio's recently updated tariff plan, Aircel has introduced a new prepaid plan that offers 1GB data per day and unlimited calling for 84 days at Rs 348. The new prepaid plan counters a similar offer from Jio priced at Rs 399. On Tuesday, Reliance Jio updated its plan by offering double validity on existing Rs 309 and Rs 509 recharge pack and introducing new Rs 349 and Rs 399 recharge plan. With the new Rs 399 recharge plan, Jio users can continue to get the benefits of company's Dhan Dhana Dhan offer for another 84 days.
Aircel's new FRC 348 offers 1GB data per day and unlimited local and STD calls to any network for 84 days at Rs 348. While Jio's data service is 4G only, Aircel will offer only 3G data speeds. The biggest limitation, however, is that this plan is only available in UP East at present. Aircel's new Rs 348 plan is likely to be the first to take aim at Jio's revised data plan. Airtel, Vodafone and Idea have already fought Jio's aggressive plans in the past and they are expected to introduce new plans as the telecom battle continues with Jio's revised tariff plans.