In a significant move, Reliance Jio and Airtel have announced new tariffs for their prepaid and postpaid plans, effective from July 3, 2024. The hikes come as both companies invest heavily in expanding their 5G networks and improving service quality. Here’s a detailed comparison of their updated plans.
Prepaid Plans Comparison
Data Plans (28 days validity)
Airtel:
- 2GB/day: ₹189
- 1GB/day: ₹299
- 1.5GB/day: ₹349
- 2.5GB/day: ₹409
- 3GB/day: ₹449
Jio:
- 1GB/day: ₹249
- 1.5GB/day: ₹299
- 2GB/day: ₹349
- 2.5GB/day: ₹399
- 3GB/day: ₹449
Longer Validity Plans (84 days)
Airtel:
- 6GB total: ₹479
- 1.5GB/day: ₹859
- 2GB/day: ₹979
Jio:
- 1.5GB/day: ₹799
- 2GB/day: ₹859
- 3GB/day: ₹1199
Annual Plans (365 days)
Airtel:
- 2.5GB/day: ₹3599
Jio:
- 2.5GB/day: ₹3599
Postpaid Plans Comparison (Monthly)
Airtel:
- 40GB: ₹449
- 75GB: ₹549
- 105GB: ₹699
- 190GB: ₹1199
Jio:
- 40GB: ₹349
- 75GB: ₹449
Consumer Reactions and Impact
Many users expressed discontent online, but telcos argue that price revisions are necessary for sustainable profit margins and better infrastructure. Some users are opting to recharge before July 3 using annual plans to mitigate the impact of the price hike.
Detailed Breakdown
Reliance Jio’s New Plans
Prepaid Plans:
- ₹189 Plan: This plan, previously priced at ₹155, offers 2GB of data for 28 days.
- ₹299 Plan: Earlier at ₹239, it now provides 1.5GB of data per day for 28 days.
- ₹449 Plan: This plan, which was ₹399, now offers 3GB of data per day for 28 days.
- ₹579 Plan: Previously ₹479, it offers 1.5GB of data per day for 56 days.
- ₹629 Plan: Up from ₹533, it provides 2GB of data per day for 56 days.
- ₹799 Plan: Earlier priced at ₹666, it gives 1.5GB of data per day for 84 days.
- ₹1,199 Plan: This plan, previously ₹999, offers 3GB of data per day for 84 days.
- ₹3,599 Annual Plan: Previously ₹2,999, it now provides 2.5GB of data per day for a year.
Postpaid Plans:
- ₹349 Plan: This plan, earlier priced at ₹299, offers unlimited calls, 100 SMS per day, and 30GB of data.
- ₹449 Plan: Up from ₹399, it provides unlimited calls, 100 SMS per day, and 50GB of data.
Jio also offers two new applications: JioSafe (₹199/month) and JioTranslate (₹99/month), free for one year for Jio users.
Airtel’s New Plans
Prepaid Plans:
- ₹199 Plan: This plan offers 1.5GB of data per day for 28 days.
- ₹299 Plan: It provides 2GB of data per day for 28 days.
- ₹499 Plan: Offers 3GB of data per day for 28 days.
- ₹599 Plan: This plan provides 1.5GB of data per day for 56 days.
- ₹699 Plan: Offers 2GB of data per day for 56 days.
- ₹849 Plan: Provides 1.5GB of data per day for 84 days.
- ₹1,299 Annual Plan: Offers 3GB of data per day for a year.
Postpaid Plans:
- ₹399 Plan: This plan offers unlimited calls, 100 SMS per day, and 40GB of data.
- ₹499 Plan: Provides unlimited calls, 100 SMS per day, and 75GB of data.
Airtel also offers additional benefits like a free subscription to Wynk Music, Airtel Xstream, and Amazon Prime.
Investment in 5G and Infrastructure
Both Jio and Airtel are investing significantly in expanding their 5G networks. According to the Union Minister Devusinh Chauhan, an average of 2,500 base stations are being installed per week to provide 5G services across India. As of November 26, 2023, Jio had installed 17,687 base stations, while Airtel had installed 3,293.
Key Takeaway Points
- Price Hike: Both Reliance Jio and Airtel have increased their prepaid and postpaid plan prices, effective from July 3, 2024.
- Prepaid Plans: Detailed comparisons show various options for 28-day, 84-day, and annual plans from both providers.
- Postpaid Plans: Jio and Airtel offer competitive postpaid plans with varying data limits and additional benefits.
- Consumer Reaction: Many users are unhappy with the price hike, but telcos justify it as necessary for better infrastructure and sustainable profit margins.
- 5G Investment: Both companies are heavily investing in expanding their 5G networks to provide better services across India.
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Hi, I’m Durgesh Nayak, and I hold a Master’s degree in Commerce with over five years of experience in the banking sector. I am certified with JAIIB and CAIIB, which has given me a solid foundation in financial knowledge. For the past four years, I’ve been sharing my passion for finance through writing money and finance blogs.
My goal is to make complex financial topics accessible and actionable, helping you improve your personal finance, investment strategies, and overall financial planning.