By Hunky 
Inflation is hitting India hard, fuel prices are sky high and so are the food and other items and now Mobile Service Providing Companies are increasing their prepaid / postpaid tariff plans for Indian mobile consumers. Just before New Year 2022, all these new plans are coming into effect from December 2021.
Let us compare the new recharge plans side by side. For easy understanding, we shall group the plans as monthly or 2 / 3 months recharge plan like 28, 56, 84 or yearly, that’s 365 days validity and as per their data benefits.
| Daily Data | Validity | AirTel | Vodafone Vi | Reliance Jio | Benefits |
| 1GB / Day | 28 Days | 265 | 269 | 179 (24 Days) | Unlimited Calls, 100SMS / Day, App Benefits |
| 1.5GB / Day | 28 Days | 299 | 299 | 239 | Unlimited Calls, 100SMS / Day, App Benefits |
| 2GB / Day | 28 Days | 359 | 359 | 299 | Unlimited Calls, 100SMS / Day, App Benefits |
| 1.5GB / Day | 56 Days | 479 | 479 | 479 | Unlimited Calls, 100SMS / Day, App Benefits |
| 2GB / Day | 56 Days | 549 | 539 | 533 | Unlimited Calls, 100SMS / Day, App Benefits |
| 1.5GB / Day | 84 Days | 719 | 719 | 666 | Unlimited Calls, 100SMS / Day, App Benefits |
| 2GB / Day | 84 Days | 839 | 839 | 719 | Unlimited Calls, 100SMS / Day, App Benefits |
| 2GB / Day | 365 Days | 2999 | 2899 | 2399 | Unlimited Calls, 100SMS / Day, App Benefits |
| Monthly Data | Validity | AirTel | Vodafone Vi | Reliance Jio | Benefits |
| 2GB Total | 28 Days | 179 | 179 | 155 | Unlimited Calls, 300 SMS, Limited Apps |
| 6GB Total | 84 Days | 455 | 459 | 395 | Unlimited Calls, 1000 SMS, Limited Apps |
| 24GB Total | 365 Days | 1799 | 1799 | 1599 (336 Days) | Unlimited Calls, 3600 SMS, Limited Apps |
If you notice, all three companies have discontinued their high daily data plans, like 3 GB or 4 GB per day plans. You can now only choose from 1.5 or 2 GB per day plans and higher than validity, lower the option for you. Since the yearly plan now only have one option, 2GB per day plan.
Bharti AirTel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea also offers data top up for their 4G plans and they have also increased those prices too.
Let us compare their data top-up recharge offerings,
| 3 GB | 6 GB | 12 GB | 50 GB | 100 GB | |
| AirTel | 58 | 118 | 301 | ||
| Vodafone Vi | 58 | 118 | 298 | 418 | |
| Reliance Jio | 61 | 121 | 301 |
You may find the official press release of the respective companies here at their official websites,
Bharti AirTel -> Airtel announces revised mobile tariffs
Vodafone Idea Vi -> Vi launches new tariff plans for Digital India
Reliance Jio -> JIO’S NEW UNLIMITED PLANS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE BEST VALUE IN THE INDUSTRY
How is the performance?
Mobile Service providers are always at our receiving end for providing luck luster service and equally bad support & service. However, if you look at the matter impartially, then technically it’s just not feasible for mobile companies to provide full speed always at all places. As a result, speed depends on how busy the mobile tower is or how far it is.
For me in Kolkata circle, generally the speeds of all three private service providers have improved a lot in past couple of months. Here is what I am getting in my residence,
Here are the speed test links for test verification,
AirTel 4G -> https://www.speedtest.net/result/a/7933359915
Reliance Jio -> https://www.speedtest.net/result/a/7937604142
What do you think and How do you feel?
Let us know what are your views on this new price policy. Do you feel it is unjustified for these companies to increase the price when country is already suffering from tough inflation or do you think it is necessary for survival and proper service offering?
At the end of the day, these companies too need to keep on paying their bills, purchase new hardware and pay salaries to their support staff for maintenance & operation.