Reliance Jio Launches New Rs 198 Prepaid Plan with Unlimited 5G: Is It Worth It?
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/20th August 2024
Reliance Jio, India’s leading telecom operator, has made headlines with the launch of a new Rs 198 prepaid plan that offers unlimited 5G access. This move follows a recent tariff increase of 12 to 25 percent across its mobile plans. The new entry-level plan aims to provide users with a more affordable option to experience Jio’s 5G network without committing to the higher-priced Rs 349 plan.
The Rs 198 plan, now available on Jio’s website, includes 2GB of daily data and unlimited 5G access. However, it comes with a notable limitation—the plan’s validity is only 14 days. This short duration contrasts sharply with the Rs 349 plan, which offers 28 days of service. If users were to purchase the Rs 198 plan twice to match the one-month validity of the Rs 349 plan, the cost would total Rs 396. This means the cheaper plan could become more expensive in the long run when seeking a full month of service with the same benefits, including unlimited voice calling and 100 SMS per day.
The introduction of the Rs 198 plan raises questions about its practicality. While it lowers the initial cost of accessing 5G services, the benefits seem limited for users requiring long-term connectivity. For those seeking a full month of service, the Rs 349 plan proves to be more cost-effective. The new plan may be appealing to users who need short-term connectivity or those who want to sample Jio’s 5G services without committing to a higher cost.
This new plan follows Jio’s tariff revision on July 3, 2024, which altered the eligibility criteria for unlimited 5G data. Previously, any plan priced at Rs 239 or higher provided unlimited 5G access. Now, only plans offering 2GB of daily data or more qualify for unlimited 5G. As a result, the Rs 349 plan has become the most affordable option meeting this requirement.
To mitigate the impact of the recent price increase, Jio has introduced three new “true unlimited upgrade” prepaid plans priced at Rs 51, Rs 101, and Rs 151. These booster packs provide users with additional access to unlimited 5G data and can be added to existing plans. For instance, the Rs 51 booster pack includes 3GB of 4G data along with unlimited 5G access. The Rs 101 and Rs 151 packs offer 6GB and 9GB of 4G data, respectively, combined with unlimited 5G data. These packs cater to users with varying data needs based on the validity period of their base plans.
Overall, while the Rs 198 plan offers a lower entry point for Jio’s 5G network, its value and practicality remain debatable. For users seeking long-term connectivity and comprehensive benefits, the Rs 349 plan remains the more economical choice. However, the new plan may be suitable for those looking for temporary solutions or wanting to try out Jio’s 5G services without a significant financial commitment.
