Think You’re Getting Rs 50/GB With Reliance JIO? Well, Think Again

The telecom company has made big promises, but only some of them work in real life.

When Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries confirmed that internet plans on Jio 4G will cost as low as Rs 50 per GB, it got everyone excited. But looks like the Ambanis had something else in mind as they calculated their data plan rates.

It is important to note that the mobile internet plans, which start as low as Rs 299 (for 2GB data) have been smartly bundled with WiFi packages. These WiFi plans are only applicable when connected to a public hotspot set up by Reliance Jio, as given below

All Reliance Jio Plans

• Rs 299 - 2GB data + 4GB WiFi for 21 days
• Rs 499 - 4GB data + 8GB WiFi for 28 days
• Rs 999 - 10GB data + 20GB WiFi for 28 days
• Rs 1,499 - 20GB data + 40GB WiFi for 28 days
• Rs 2,499 - 35GB data + 75GB WiFi for 28 days
• Rs 3,999 - 60GB data + 120GB WiFi for 28 days
• Rs 4,999 - 75GB data + 150GB WiFi for 28 days

Now, if we do a simple calculation of the GBs on offer with various Jio plans, then you’ll get the hang of how Ambani & Co. claim to offer internet plans at among the lowest in the world.

According to Reliance, Jio 4G is giving you 6GB (2+4GB) at Rs 299, which almost fits down to Rs 50/GB. Same is the case with its highest plan at Rs 4,999, where users get 225GB (75+150GB) of data, for whoever needs that much GBs in 28 days. In this case, the cost per GB goes down to as low Rs 22, which is quite staggering.

But one would have to question Reliance for adding up the WiFi data quota (which is confined to Reliance Jio hotspots) when there aren’t enough of them in place right now.

Trying to Make Sense

So, unless Reliance Jio miraculously manages to set up over 1000s of WiFi hotspots in the next four months, the whole point of paying for data on the whole seems absurd right now.

Would people be foolish enough to pay for data that will not be available to them all the time? Will Reliance offer users the flexibility to switch between mobile and WiFi data? Can we rely on the services, just because there is a lot of data on avail?

As we have repeatedly said, Reliance Jio may be cheaper than Airtel or a Vodafone right now, but the gulf isn’t a huge one. And when Jio bundles WiFi plans to its package which is pointless right now, we can only think of more questions that raises doubts about the company’s service.