Days after Bharti Airtel announced ‘free 4G data’ for 90 days, main rival Vodafone India has come up with a similar offer. The second biggest telecom operator in India by revenue is offering to provide free 9 GB of 3G or 4G data to anyone who buys a 1 GB pack for a new 4G phone.
“New 4G Smartphone means a 4G Smartphone that was not used on the Vodafone network in the last 6 Months,” the company clarified, meaning that it is a bit like Reliance Jio’s Welcome Offer, which is also tied to 4G phones.
However, on the downside, if you are a Vodafone customer, you cannot get this offer unless you either buy a new 4G phone or you loan a 4G phone from a friend or relative for the next three months.
Other terms and conditions include that the data must be used on 4G network if the customer is from Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata – where the company’s 3G network is not exactly in a condition to take more traffic.
In circles like Uttar Pradesh (West), Uttar Pradesh(East), Haryana, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu , Maharashtra & Goa, Assam, North East states and Rajasthan – you will get 9GB 3G data, but this has to be used only at night (from 12 AM till 6 am). Besides, the data has to be used only on a 4G handset. It is not clear whether one can use this extra data during daytime if one is using the 4G network or whether you have to use it only on 3G, but using a 4G handset.
The offer is clearly a reaction to Reliance Jio’s offer of 4GB/day of free data under its Welcome Offer.
From industry insiders, we are able to learn that both Vodafone and Bharti Airtel saw a huge decline in the total data used by their subscribers, and were on track to surprise their investors with poor data usage numbers for the December quarter.
These offers are one way they are trying to ensure that their networks do not remain grossly underutilized and they are still able to report some kind of data growth.
However, because these offers are provided at far cheaper rates than their usual 220/GB tariff, what is gained in traffic will be lost in pricing.
VODAFONE OFFER DETAILS
“Customers can now pay for 1 GB and get 9GB additional free. As a result, a customer connecting with a new 4G handset can now enjoy 10GB data at the cost of just 1 GB for up to 3 months,” it said.
This is being offered in circles where Vodafone offers its own 3G/4G service and can be availed by both prepaid and postpaid customers till December 31, 2016, it added.
“With the festive season approaching, we are giving a greater reason to customers to upgrade to 4G handsets. With this offer, we are encouraging new 4G handset users to enjoy the Vodafone SuperNet™ experience to the fullest and explore the wonders of the internet in a truly worry-free manner,” the company said.
The offer is valid till December 31, 2016.
Meanwhile, the company also said that it has got 100+ Live TV channels, over 18000 movies and TV show titles and a wide range of all genres of music on Vodafone Play.
To avail the benefits of the 1+9 data offer, customers should log on to www.vodafone.in/smartoffers where they will be provided with the complete set of information regarding the offer.