Reliance Jio launches voice-only plans amid speculation of higher data plan prices
text_fieldsReliance Jio has unveiled new voice-only prepaid plans in India, catering to users seeking affordable options for voice calls and SMS without data benefits.
This development aligns with a recent mandate from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), requiring telecom operators to introduce standalone special tariff vouchers (STVs) focused exclusively on voice and SMS services.
The new offerings include two value packs. The Rs. 458 plan provides unlimited voice calls, 1,000 SMS, and a validity of 84 days. Meanwhile, the Rs. 1,958 plan includes unlimited voice calls, 3,600 SMS, and a validity of 365 days. While these plans do not offer data allowances, they come bundled with subscriptions to JioTV, JioCinema, and JioCloud at no additional cost, valid for the duration of the plan.
Rival telecom operator Bharti Airtel has also introduced similar voice-only plans in compliance with TRAI’s directive, marking a shift in the Indian telecom market towards more specialised tariff options.
Tipster Abhishek Yadav has hinted that Reliance Jio might soon revise prices for its older value packs with bundled data. For instance, the Rs. 479 plan, previously offering 6GB of free data, may be relaunched at Rs. 539. Similarly, the Rs. 1,899 plan with 24GB of data could see its price increase to Rs. 2,249. However, these plans are currently unavailable on Jio’s official website or the MyJio app.
Yadav also suggested that Jio could reintroduce the Rs. 479 and Rs. 1,999 plans with voice and SMS-only options. However, with the rollout of the Rs. 458 and Rs. 1,958 plans, the chances of these variations being relaunched appear slim. As the telecom operator has yet to confirm any changes, customers are encouraged to treat this information as speculative.
If data plans are revised with higher prices, it could impact budget-conscious users who rely heavily on affordable data options.