After Reliance Jio's scrapping of its basic 28-day plan, all eyes are on Airtel and Vodafone Idea as to whether or not they follow suit.
Jio announced the discontinuation of its entry-level plan (1 GB/day, Rs 249, 28 days) with effect from August 18. Following the rejig, the basic 28-day plan subscribers of Jio will have to level up to the next best choice -- Rs 299, 1.5 GB per day, 28 days.
Jio's site now has only 1.5 GB/day and higher data packs, with no lower-data options. The latest move will effectively leave customers with no choice but to buy higher-priced packs. Its 2GB/day, 28-day pack is available at Rs 349.
It may be noted here that Airtel's vice chairman Gopal Vittal had last month called for further "tariff repair" for a sustainable return on capital employed.
The last time there was a similar rejig by one telco, the rivals were quick to introduce plan changes of their own.
Compared to Jio's new prepaid entry price, Vodafone Idea's entry-level 28-day pack (1 GB/day) currently comes at Rs 299. Its 1.5 GB/day plan comes at Rs 349. Its 2GB/day plan for 28 days comes at Rs 408.
As for Airtel, its entry-level plan (1GB/day, 28 days) comes at Rs 299, while its 1.5 GB/day plan for 28 days comes at Rs 349.
BSNL offers comparatively much lower-rate packs, with its 30-day, 1.5 GB/day offer coming at Rs 141, and the 30-day, 2.2 GB/day pack being offered at Rs 148. (These pricing data is for Western Uttar Pradesh region).
India telecom battle
Over the past some months, Airtel has rolled out a slew of prepaid and postpaid offers to woo customers as the race against Mukesh Ambani's Jio tightens in a difficult telecom market.
Mittal and Ambani's telecom battle has intensified further in 2025 even as both Airtel and Jio have cornered more and more market share at the expense debt-laden Vodafone Idea. The two frontrunners now account for the bulk of India’s wireless market.
TRAI data shows Jio adding 1.9 million net wireless subscribers in June 2025, keeping its top place in Indian telecom. Airtel gained 763,482 subscribers, while Vodafone Idea (Vi) lost 217,816 users.
Bharti Airtel's revenue market share (RMS) touched a record around 40% in FY25. In FY25, Airtel's revenue rose 17.9% year-on-year to Rs 1.25 lakh crore with an EBITDA of Rs 57,909 crore, helping the company clock a lifetime-high revenue market share.
According to the company's last annual report (released in July), its robust revenue growth was supported by an "improved portfolio mix, continued premiumisation and tariff repair across our mobile pricing plans."
The second-largest telecom operator had added 24 million net 4G/5G customers in FY25 even as its ARPU (average revenue per user), a key performance metric, increased by Rs 36 to Rs 245 during the period.
The day after Jio made the announcement of scrapping the basic plan, shares of Reliance Industries were up significantly (by over 2.5% around mid-day).
Jio announced the discontinuation of its entry-level plan (1 GB/day, Rs 249, 28 days) with effect from August 18. Following the rejig, the basic 28-day plan subscribers of Jio will have to level up to the next best choice -- Rs 299, 1.5 GB per day, 28 days.
Jio's site now has only 1.5 GB/day and higher data packs, with no lower-data options. The latest move will effectively leave customers with no choice but to buy higher-priced packs. Its 2GB/day, 28-day pack is available at Rs 349.
It may be noted here that Airtel's vice chairman Gopal Vittal had last month called for further "tariff repair" for a sustainable return on capital employed.
The last time there was a similar rejig by one telco, the rivals were quick to introduce plan changes of their own.
Compared to Jio's new prepaid entry price, Vodafone Idea's entry-level 28-day pack (1 GB/day) currently comes at Rs 299. Its 1.5 GB/day plan comes at Rs 349. Its 2GB/day plan for 28 days comes at Rs 408.
As for Airtel, its entry-level plan (1GB/day, 28 days) comes at Rs 299, while its 1.5 GB/day plan for 28 days comes at Rs 349.
BSNL offers comparatively much lower-rate packs, with its 30-day, 1.5 GB/day offer coming at Rs 141, and the 30-day, 2.2 GB/day pack being offered at Rs 148. (These pricing data is for Western Uttar Pradesh region).
India telecom battle
Over the past some months, Airtel has rolled out a slew of prepaid and postpaid offers to woo customers as the race against Mukesh Ambani's Jio tightens in a difficult telecom market.
Mittal and Ambani's telecom battle has intensified further in 2025 even as both Airtel and Jio have cornered more and more market share at the expense debt-laden Vodafone Idea. The two frontrunners now account for the bulk of India’s wireless market.
TRAI data shows Jio adding 1.9 million net wireless subscribers in June 2025, keeping its top place in Indian telecom. Airtel gained 763,482 subscribers, while Vodafone Idea (Vi) lost 217,816 users.
Bharti Airtel's revenue market share (RMS) touched a record around 40% in FY25. In FY25, Airtel's revenue rose 17.9% year-on-year to Rs 1.25 lakh crore with an EBITDA of Rs 57,909 crore, helping the company clock a lifetime-high revenue market share.
According to the company's last annual report (released in July), its robust revenue growth was supported by an "improved portfolio mix, continued premiumisation and tariff repair across our mobile pricing plans."
The second-largest telecom operator had added 24 million net 4G/5G customers in FY25 even as its ARPU (average revenue per user), a key performance metric, increased by Rs 36 to Rs 245 during the period.
The day after Jio made the announcement of scrapping the basic plan, shares of Reliance Industries were up significantly (by over 2.5% around mid-day).
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