Telecom Companies Change Recharge Strategies, Impacting Users

Smartphone users are facing another significant challenge as the telecom sector shifts its approach to recharges. Instead of directly increasing the prices of plans, telecom companies are now opting to reduce the validity of these plans.

New Tactics by Telecom Firms
Recently, telecom companies have been adopting a new strategy to increase recharge costs without raising prices outright. They are maintaining the same plan prices but quietly cutting down on validity or benefits. Recently, Jio and BSNL have made such changes to some of their most popular plans.

Validity Reduced
According to a report from TeleTalk, BSNL has once again decreased the validity of its ₹107 prepaid plan. Previously offering 22 days of validity, it has now been reduced to just 20 days. When this plan was first launched, it provided 35 days of validity, which has now been nearly halved over time. Users still receive benefits like 200 minutes of voice calling and 3GB of data.

Changes in BSNL's ₹197 Plan
BSNL has also made adjustments to another plan. The report indicates that the popular ₹197 plan has seen a significant change, with its validity reduced from 42 days to just 35 days. However, the company has increased the data allowance from 4GB to 5GB, while users will continue to enjoy 300 minutes of free calling and 100 SMS daily.

Jio's Major Validity Cut
Recently, Jio has also shocked its customers by reducing the validity of its ₹195 cricket data pack. This plan, which previously lasted for 90 days, has now been cut down to just 30 days. This change means that what used to cost around ₹2 per day now costs approximately ₹6.50 daily.

Jio's Data and OTT Offerings
Despite the reduced validity of Jio's ₹195 pack, the data and other benefits remain unchanged. Customers will still receive a total of 15GB of data. Additionally, one of the plan's highlights is the OTT benefit, which includes a free subscription to JioHotstar mobile for 90 days. It’s important to note that this is solely a data pack and does not include calling facilities.

Impact on Users
These decisions by telecom companies will directly affect users' wallets. Customers will now need to recharge more frequently than before, leading to increased overall expenses. They will receive the same old benefits with reduced validity, making the plans feel more expensive even without a price hike.