Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are offering long-validity prepaid plans aimed at customers who mainly need calling and SMS, rather than mobile data.
While Jio’s Rs 1,748 plan is Rs 101 cheaper upfront, Airtel’s Rs 1,849 plan offers longer validity, making it cheaper per day.
Also Read: Jio Leads Active Mobile User Additions in June as Airtel Tops Overall Subscriber Gains: TRAI
Jio Rs 1,748 Prepaid Plan: Benefits and Validity
Reliance Jio’s Rs 1,748 prepaid plan comes with 336 days of validity. It offers unlimited voice calling and 3,600 SMS, but no mobile data.
The plan costs around Rs 5.20 per day when its total price is spread across the validity period. Jio also bundles JioTV and JioAICloud with the plan.
These voice-only plans were introduced after the government asked telecom operators to offer options that allow customers to keep their SIMs active without paying for data.
Operators initially objected, but such plans were eventually introduced following enforcement by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
Also Read: Airtel Rebrands Priority Postpaid as ‘Airtel Fast Lane’, Keeps Existing Plans and Benefits Intact
Airtel Rs 1,849 Plan: More Validity at a Lower Daily Cost
Bharti Airtel’s Rs 1,849 prepaid plan also provides unlimited voice calls and 3,600 SMS, with no data included.
Its key advantage is 365 days of service validity, effectively covering a full year. Despite costing Rs 101 more than Jio’s plan, Airtel’s daily cost works out to around Rs 5.07, lower than Jio’s Rs 5.20. The Airtel plan does not include additional bundled benefits.
Also Read: No Initial Net Neutrality Breach in Airtel’s 5G Priority Plans: TRAI
Jio vs Airtel: Which Plan Is Better?
On the face of it, Jio appears cheaper. But the longer validity changes the calculation. Airtel, on the other hand, costs more upfront but provides 29 additional days of service and a lower average daily cost.
For customers looking for a long-term voice-and-SMS plan without data, the Airtel Rs 1,849 prepaid plan offers better value based on the price-and-validity comparison.
For voice-only users, the key factor is not simply the recharge price. Validity and the effective daily cost can make a bigger difference over a full year.
Samarjit Kaur is a journalist and communications professional covering technology & emerging digital trends. With a focus on clarity and context, she reports on developments shaping industries and governance. When not reporting, she chooses to plug-in and relax on her playlists and plan her next bucket-list trips!
