India’s leading telecom service providers, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, have recently announced significant price hikes across their prepaid and postpaid plans, effective from July 3. These adjustments aim to accommodate rising operational costs, investments in 5G, and regulatory changes while maintaining the same benefits, including data, unlimited calling, and SMS services. This article provides a detailed comparison of the revised plans and explores the reasons behind these price increases.
Monthly Prepaid Plans
- Jio‘s Revised Plans:
- Rs 155 plan is now Rs 189: 2 GB of data, unlimited calling for 28 days.
- Rs 209 plan is now Rs 249: 1 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 28 days.
- Rs 239 plan is now Rs 299: 1.5 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 28 days.
- Rs 299 plan is now Rs 349: 2 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 28 days.
- Rs 399 plan is now Rs 449: 3 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 28 days.
- Airtel’s Revised Plans:
- Rs 179 plan is now Rs 199: 2 GB of data, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 28 days.
- Rs 265 plan is now Rs 299: 1 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 28 days.
- Rs 299 plan is now Rs 349: 1.5 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 28 days.
- Rs 359 plan is now Rs 409: 2.5 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 28 days.
- Rs 399 plan is now Rs 449: 3 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 28 days.
Two-Month Prepaid Plans
- Jio’s Revised Plans:
- Rs 479 plan is now Rs 579: 1.5 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 56 days.
- Rs 533 plan is now Rs 629: 2 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 56 days.
- Airtel’s Revised Plans:
- Rs 479 plan is now Rs 579: 1.5 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 56 days.
- Rs 549 plan is now Rs 649: 2 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 56 days.
Three-Month Prepaid Plans
- Jio’s Revised Plans:
- Rs 395 plan is now Rs 479: 6 GB of data, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 84 days.
- Rs 666 plan is now Rs 799: 1.5 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 84 days.
- Rs 719 plan is now Rs 859: 2 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 84 days.
- Rs 999 plan is now Rs 1199: 3 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 84 days.
- Airtel’s Revised Plans:
- Rs 455 plan is now Rs 509: 6 GB of data, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 84 days.
- Rs 719 plan is now Rs 859: 1.5 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 84 days.
- Rs 839 plan is now Rs 979: 2 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 84 days.
Annual Prepaid Plans
- Jio’s Revised Plans:
- Rs 1559 plan is now Rs 1899: 24 GB of data, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 336 days.
- Rs 2999 plan is now Rs 3599: 2.5 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 365 days.
- Airtel’s Revised Plans:
- Rs 1799 plan is now Rs 1999: 24 GB of data, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 365 days.
- Rs 2999 plan is now Rs 3599: 2 GB/day, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day for 365 days.
Data Add-On Plans
- Jio’s Revised Plans:
- Rs 15 plan is now Rs 19: 1 GB of data.
- Rs 25 plan is now Rs 29: 2 GB of data.
- Rs 61 plan is now Rs 69: 6 GB of data.
- Airtel’s Revised Plans:
- Rs 19 plan is now Rs 22: 1 GB of data.
- Rs 29 plan is now Rs 33: 2 GB of data.
- Rs 65 plan is now Rs 77: 4 GB of data.
Postpaid Plans
- Jio’s Revised Plans:
- Rs 299 plan is now Rs 349: 30 GB of data, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day.
- Rs 399 plan is now Rs 449: 75 GB of data, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day.
- Airtel’s Revised Plans:
- Rs 399 plan is now Rs 449: 40 GB of data with roll-over, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day, and Xstream Premium subscription.
- Rs 499 plan is now Rs 549: 75 GB of data with roll-over, unlimited calling, 100 SMS/day, Xstream Premium subscription, Disney+Hotstar subscription for 12 months, and Amazon Prime subscription for 6 months.
Reasons Behind the Price Hike
The recent increase in mobile tariffs by Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio is primarily driven by several factors:
- Rising Operational Costs: Telecom companies face increasing operational costs, including network maintenance, spectrum fees, and infrastructure upgrades. To maintain profitability, they adjust tariffs periodically.
- Investments in 5G: Both Airtel and Jio are preparing for the rollout of 5G services. These investments require substantial capital, which may lead to tariff adjustments.
- Competitive Landscape: The telecom industry is competitive, and companies often respond to each other’s pricing strategies. When one operator raises tariffs, others may follow suit to maintain a level playing field.
- Inflation and Currency Fluctuations: Inflation affects operational costs, and currency fluctuations impact international payments for services and equipment.
- Regulatory Changes: Regulatory decisions, such as spectrum auctions or license fees, can influence tariffs.
Impact on Consumers and Businesses
Consumers will likely experience increased monthly bills for their mobile services. The tariff hike directly affects the cost of voice calls, data, and other services. Consumers may explore alternative telecom providers to find better deals, and the competitive landscape will play a crucial role in shaping consumer decisions. Small businesses and entrepreneurs who rely heavily on mobile services may face increased operational costs, affecting their profitability.
The revised tariffs by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel reflect the evolving dynamics of the Indian telecom sector, influenced by rising costs, investments in new technology, and competitive strategies. As both companies roll out their new plans, consumers will need to reassess their choices based on their usage patterns and financial capacities.
