Reliance Jio, India's leading telecom operator, has announced a significant increase in mobile tariffs ranging from 12% to 27%, marking its first hike in two and a half years. This move is expected to pave the way for similar increases by competitors like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea.
The price adjustments come immediately following a spectrum auction, aligning with industry expectations. Reliance Jio emphasized that these changes are aimed at fostering innovation and sustainable growth, particularly in investments related to 5G and AI technologies.
Key changes include raising the price of the lowest recharge plan to Rs 19 from Rs 15, representing a 27% increase. Postpaid plans, such as the 75 GB data plan, will now cost Rs 449 instead of Rs 399. Additionally, the popular Rs 666 unlimited plan with an 84-day validity has been hiked by approximately 20% to Rs 799.
Annual recharge plans will see price hikes of 20-21%, with rates adjusted from Rs 1,559 to Rs 1,899 and from Rs 2,999 to Rs 3,599. Medium-range mobile service plans will also experience increases ranging from 19% to 21%.
Reliance Jio has specified that unlimited 5G data will be accessible on all plans offering 2GB per day and above. These new tariffs will take effect from July 3, 2024, and will be available through existing channels and touchpoints.
Apart from tariff revisions, Jio has introduced two new apps, Jio Safe and JioTranslate, which will be provided free of charge to customers for one year. JioSafe is a quantum-secure communication app priced at Rs 199 per month, enabling secure calling, messaging, and file transfer. JioTranslate, an AI-powered multilingual communication app, facilitates voice call translations, voice messages, text, and image translations.
With over 470 million mobile subscribers, Reliance Jio commands approximately 41% of the market share in India's telecom sector. This latest tariff hike mirrors similar adjustments made by competitors in recent years, reflecting ongoing changes in the telecommunications landscape.
