State run BSNL is all set to end Reliance Jio’s low cost monopoly in voice calling segment. As per the sources, BSNL will be the first telecom after Jio to cut its tariffs and enter the price war arena in the mobile network market.
Like Reliance Jio’s , BSNL is also planning to offer free voice calling on its network and the decided tariff for the plan is said to be cheaper than Jio (the new entrant).
Striking a difference here, BSNL has planned to be open to 2G and 3G users, which constitute the majority of mobile customers. Jio’s offer, on the other hand, will only be available to the 4G subscribers. BSNL, which holds a strong market penetration and significant share in many key markets such as Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Punjab and UP, will announce the zero-voice-tariff plans from January this year and these would be lower than the Rs 149 entry price of Jio. The loss-making PSU is, however, absent in key markets such as Mumbai and Delhi (serviced by MTNL). BSNL’s offer may put further pressure on other operators such as Airtel, Vodafone and Idea to slash tariffs.
