Voice Call Rates To Rise Soon, While Data To Get Dearer: Happy Days Over!

After back-to-back tariff hike announcements by Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio seems the sector is going through its worst phase. So, the days of cheap data and free calls are over! 

The news of Vodafone Idea and Airtel who plan to increase tariffs, while Jio could be raising its mobile charges over the next few weeks has already tensed its customers. 

According to Business Today report, the quantum of these hikes is not clear yet - it is believed that they will move up in two phases. Explaining in details about each phase, charges can be increased by telcos themselves. 

Secondly, the telecom regulator TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) may ask telcos to increase their call and data charges - since TRAI is reportedly revisiting the floor tariffs mechanism. 

"The cost of completing a call is much higher than 6 paise per minute. Also, the cost of power, rental for the tower, and spectrum have nothing to do with whether there is an IP network or not," Officials from Airtel said. 

If you go to see, Airtel's minimum recharge plan, known as Smart Recharge, is available at Rs 23 that offers prepaid subscribers to extend their validity by 28 days. Whereas Vodafone Idea's similar minimum recharge plan is for Rs 24.

So, the reason to raise the minimum recharge tariffs is because Jio's minimum recharge plan - for just JioPhone users - costs Rs 59 for 28 days.