By India Today Tech: Earlier this year, reports speculated about tariff hikes from telecom companies. Analysts had speculated that telecom companies could introduce indirect tariff hikes to boost average revenue per user (ARPU). Indirect tariff hikes would mean that even the pricing of the plans would remain the same, their benefits would, however, be reduced. Now, from the looks of it, it seems that telecom companies have started moving in the direction of indirect hikes.
The recent move by the telcos giving lesser benefits to users could either push users to purchase separate SMS packs or to move to a higher-priced plan that would give them all-around benefits. However, the benefits removed would only be for outgoing SMS so users will continue to receive OTPs and SMS benefits if they recharge with the above-stated plans.
Vodafone Idea or Vi has removed the outgoing SMS benefits from two of its unlimited prepaid recharge plans. The prepaid plans from Vi priced at Rs 99 and Rs 109 no longer offer outgoing SMS with the telco noting “no outgoing SMS” in a banner on its website. The development was first reported by Price Baba. The Rs 109 plan gives 1GB of data and unlimited calls for a validity of 20 days while the Rs 99 plan gives the same benefits for a validity of 18 days.
Jio recently launched two JioPhone prepaid plans priced at Rs 39 and Rs 69 that give unlimited calls, data and access to Jio apps. The Rs 39 prepaid plan offers 100 MB of high-speed data, unlimited calling and 14 days validity. The plan thus offers 1400 MB data spread for 14 days with speed reduced to 64 Kbps after exhaustion of high-speed data. The Rs 69 plan offers 0.5 GB high-speed data per day, truly unlimited calling, and 14 days validity. The plan thus offers 7GB data spread over 14 days with speed reduced to 64 Kbps after exhaustion of high-speed data.
Speaking of benefits and migrating customers, state-owned telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is currently offering a discount of Rs 100 to BSNL’s existing landline customers moving to the Bharat Fibre plan. The discount is reportedly available to existing BSNL landline customers who do not have a Broadband connection for a promotional period of 90 days from June 14, 2021. It is available in all telecom circles on any plan opted by the BSNL users.