Reliance Jio effect: Airtel introduces postpaid plan for Rs 499; offers 40GB data, unlimited calls

In an effort to compete with Vodafone and Reliance Jio, Airtel is now offering a new postpaid recharge pack for a price of Rs 499.

Under this plan, users will get 40GB of 3G/4G data for a validity period of a month. The pack also provides unlimited local, STD, incoming roaming and outgoing roaming calls. Additionally, Prime users will also get access to Wynk Music, Live TV and handset damage protection.

Recently, Aitrel launched an offer to provide unlimited free calls and 4G data to its prepaid customers. Since the entry of the Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio in the telecom sector, an intense price war has been triggered.

Major industrial players like, Airtel, Vodafone India among others are coming up with new prepaid or postpaid plan to remain in the game. And in a bit to do the same, Airtel launched an all new Rs 59 pack.

The company is giving free unlimited calls on roaming to its prepaid customers who travel a lot. Besides, the Airtel special STV Rs 59 also offers 500MB 3G/4G data depending on the circle.

The company also introduced a new prepaid plan for Rs 93, which offers benefits such as 1GB of data along with free local and STD calls and free roaming calls. The plan will also offer 100 SMSes per day. The plan has a validity period of 28 days. The company has revised its Rs 93 prepaid plan in an effort to compete with Reliance Jio’s Rs 98 plan.

Recently, Hike, a homegrown messaging app, announced a strategic partnership with Bharti Airtel ("Airtel") to embed 'Total, built by hike' on mobile devices under the latter's 'Mera Pehla Smartphone' initiative.

Starting March, select smartphones under the 'Mera Pehla Smartphone' will be shipped with Total as a pre-installed feature. With the added benefit of 'Total' on all Mera Pehla Smartphone, users can access essential services such as Messaging, News, Recharge and more even without an active data connection and easily get online with access to data packs for as low as Re. 1.