Telecom operator Idea Cellular today announced same price for data recharges across technologies including 2G, 3G and 4G in a bid to simplify data pricing for customers.
The same data price will be available if the mobile phone customer recharge for 1 GB and above. The main point to note is that Idea Cellular does not have pan-India 4G coverage. On top of this, Idea Cellular does not have adequate coverage for offering 3G as well. Idea Cellular said its 2G covers 4 lakh towns and villages.
With this, Idea Cellular becomes the first Indian telecom operator to launch same price for data plans. Idea Cellular has nearly 200 million subscribers across the country.
“Idea will allow open market data recharges of 1GB & above to work on Idea’s 2G, 3G or 4G network without any differential prices and this will be rolled out nationally by 31 March 2017,” said Idea in a statement issued on Friday.
Currently, a mobile phone customer in India buys separate recharges for 2G or 3G or 4G technology at different price points for each technology and at times this leads to confusion in the mind of the user, apart from causing inconvenience.
“Customer can choose the recharge price basis usage and volume available in pack, without having to worry about the platform the customer’s device is logged in,” said Sashi Shankar, chief marketing officer of Idea Cellular.
Idea Cellular said it will shift product categories like sachets and freedom packs subsequently to unified pricing and will be rolled out nationally in phases by 31 May 2017.
Since mobile operators such as Idea Cellular and Bharti Airtel are already offering 4G services at 3G prices, moving to a uniform a data pricing model will not impact their revenue streams.
The new development is aimed at taking on Jio strategy to offer unlimited data for Rs 303 from April 1 to its Prime customers, who opted Jio services during the promotion offer. Jio is trying to retain its 100 million subscribers who joined the 4G network during the free offer period.
BSNL, a state-run telecom operator, on Thursday announced unlimited voice and 2GB of data per day for Rs 339 for its prepaid customers in India — for the period of 90 days on pan-India basis. BSNL said free calls to other network will be for 25 minutes per day and after that the charges will be at 25 paisa per minute.
The above charts indicates mobile data speed — on 3G and 4G networks — of leading Indian telecom operators mapped by TRAI’s mobile app.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
