Reliance Jio Effect: BSNL Launches Rs. 786, Rs. 599 Eid-ul-Fitr Combo Packs with Bundled Data, Calls

HIGHLIGHTS

• BSNL Rs. 786 pack comes with 3GB data, 90-day validity
• The Rs. 599 pack provides total Rs. 786 balance, on-net SMSes
• Full talk time recharges on these packs will get extra talk value

State-owned telecom operator BSNL has launched two prepaid recharge packs that offer data and voice benefits. The combo plans, priced at Rs. 786 and Rs. 599, can be purchased by June 30, and will have validities of 90 days and 30 days, respectively. Moreover, those purchasing full talk time recharges on top of these packs with get extra value for their money. This is the latest in the flurry of BSNL offers providing data and calls at low rates in order to better compete with Reliance Jio. The new plans will help BSNL stave off the aggressively-priced Reliance Jio plans that provide at least 1GB data, and free SMS, calls, and apps subscriptions at less than Rs. 10 per day.

BSNL Rs. 786 and Rs. 599 combo offers

The BSNL Rs. 786 recharge pack comes with 3GB of data for 90 days, and your account will be credited with balance of Rs. 786 for voice calls. This basically means the Rs. 786 balance cannot be used for sending SMSes, or consuming data if the bundled 3GB is exhausted. On the other hand, the Rs. 599 BSNL plan credits your balance with Rs. 507 for all purposes, and Rs. 279 exclusively for voice calls, totalling to balance of Rs. 786. There are no bundled data benefits with this recharge pack, but buyers will get 10 on-net local SMSes. Interestingly, the Rs. 279 dedicated call balance and the 10 on-net SMSs will lapse if they are not used up within the 30-day validity period.

Coming to the benefits on full talk time recharges, BSNL is providing extra value for a period of 90 days on the Rs. 786 recharge pack. On recharge of Rs. 110, Rs. 210, and Rs. 290, consumers will get balance of Rs. 115, Rs. 220, and Rs. 310, respectively. On purchasing the Rs. 310, Rs. 510, Rs. 610, Rs. 1,010, Rs. 1,510, and Rs. 2,010 packs, BSNL will credit 10 percent extra balance on the recharge value. 20 percent extra balance is credited on recharges of Rs. 3,100 and Rs. 5,100.

This is the second time in a week BSNL has launched a combo offer for prepaid users, after the Chaukka 444 plan with 360GB bundled data that was launched on June 16. This plan competes with the Rs. 509 Reliance Jio plan that offers 2GB data per day and other freebies for 28 days to consumers, but one-ups the Mukesh Ambani-backed operator with twice the daily data allowance, that too for 90 days. However, Jio's network is exclusively 4G, while BSNL's Internet speeds are 3G only.