Data Limited to 1GB Per Day - Happy New Year Offer, New TopUp Options, and Merchant Wallet Announced by Reliance Jio

Reliance Jio gained instant recognition with the launch of its welcome offer in India, gaining 52 million subscribers in a period of 3 months. This is a huge feat - especially given the fact that deep-seated telecom provider Airtel recently arrived at the 250 million subscribers mark. Now, RIL plans to swell this fandom with its Happy New Year Offer, which is an extension to the existing Welcome Offer, starting first of January, 2017.

Jio’s Happy New Year Offer extends free use of voice and data services up to March 31^st in 2017. This is to woo new users into assuming Reliance Jio’s mobile services, as well as for customers who cotton to present-day chargeless services from Jio. The latter group will be automatically upgraded to the Happy New Year offer. RIL prime, Mukesh Ambani made the key statement in a press event recently.

To begin with, daily usage of data has been limited to 1GB FUP (Fair Usage Policy) against the previous limit of 4GB FUP. Post exhaustion of data, users could either cave in to reduced speed restricted to 128 kbps. This move, according to Mukesh Ambani, was taken to counter misuse of data by several users under the current limit, which is causing congestion in the network. Makes sense! Indians prize (and exploit) anything and everything which comes with a stamp of “Free” on it.

Mukesh Ambani in his speech reported that about 8 percent of the present towers have observed congestion due to an abnormally high usage of data. Reliance Jio has, subsequently, launched TopUp vouchers if users wish to consume data more than 1GB per day.  For diligent Jio users, it could come as a disappointment as both calls and internet are communicated over the 4G protocol, as opposed to the incumbent telecom providers.

Ambani also embarked upon the creation of Points of Interconnects (POIs) as Jio users have repeatedly complained of failed call connectivity since its launch. The organization has initiated talks with three other telcos – Vodafone, Airtel & Idea – for better connectivity of their voice service. The telcos were recently fined by TRAI for not allowing interconnection with Reliance Jio.

Additionally, Jio has introduced home delivery of Jio SIM cards with instant activation using eKYC. The service will be rolled out in 100 plus cities starting December 31^st. Other major announcements made while addressing the press include revealing of Jio Money Merchant app. While Jio Money has always existed as an obscure app in the bundle offered by Jio, users will now be able to utilize the service (along with Aadhar card) to withdraw cash at Jio Money-powered Micro ATMs.

Further, Reliance Jio is offering free service with select 4G smartphones besides Jio’s Lyf series of phones. Buyers of the recently launched Coolpad Note 3S and Coolpad Mega 3 will receive Jio SIM cards by simply displaying their copy of invoice at any Jio store. Whilst, there are no special packages announced yet, we are waiting for the fever of Welcome offer and now the Happy New Year Offer to simmer down. Meanwhile, Jio is compatible with an array of 4G enabled phones.

Recharge options ahead of reduced data limit include Rs. 51 for 1GB data, valid for the entirety of 24 hours. For Rs. 301, users could also buy 6GB data with a validity of 28 days. Ambani also stated that Jio is a “consumer-obsessed brand” and it will strive to provide data and services to all of its subscribers, without ignoring the suffering 8 percent.