Jio starts offering free unlimited 5G for less than Rs 200 after raising prepaid tariffs but there’s a catch.
Reliance Jio, India’s largest telecom operator, has taken an interesting turn following its recent decision to raise mobile tariffs by 12 to 25 percent. After the price hike, Jio has quietly introduced a new entry-level prepaid plan that offers access to unlimited 5G services at a significantly lower cost. The new Rs 198 plan allows users to enjoy Jio’s 5G network without having to opt for the more expensive Rs 349 plan.
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However, there are some trade-offs that come with this new option. The Rs 198 prepaid plan, now listed on Jio’s website, provides users with 2GB of daily data along with unlimited 5G access. The catch, though, is the validity period—only 14 days, half the duration of the Rs 349 plan. This means that if you double the Rs 198 plan to match the 28-day validity of the Rs 349 plan, the cost rises to Rs 396. In other words, the cheaper plan actually ends up being more expensive if you’re looking for a full month of service with the same benefits, including unlimited voice calling and 100 SMS per day.
The rationale behind Jio’s launch of the Rs 198 plan is puzzling. While it technically lowers the entry barrier for accessing 5G services, the real-world benefits seem limited. For those who need long-term connectivity, the Rs 349 plan remains the more economical choice. The Rs 198 plan could appeal to users who only need a short-term solution or those who want to test Jio’s 5G services without committing to a higher upfront cost.
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This move follows Jio’s tariff hike on July 3, 2024, which raised the threshold for accessing unlimited 5G data under its “Jio Welcome Offer.” Previously, any plan costing Rs 239 or more qualified for unlimited 5G, but now only plans offering 2GB of daily data or more are eligible. The Rs 349 plan is currently the most affordable option meeting this criterion.
To soften the impact of the tariff hike, Jio introduced three new “true unlimited upgrade” prepaid plans, priced at Rs 51, Rs 101, and Rs 151. These booster packs offer more affordable access to unlimited 5G data and can be added to existing plans. For instance, the Rs 51 booster pack provides 3GB of 4G data plus unlimited 5G, while the Rs 101 and Rs 151 packs offer 6GB and 9GB of 4G data, respectively, alongside unlimited 5G access. These packs are designed for users with varying data needs, depending on the validity period of their base plans.
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Overall, while the Rs 198 plan introduces a lower-cost entry point for Jio’s 5G network, its practicality and value remain questionable when compared to the existing Rs 349 plan.
