Data tariffs: Vodafone latest to give 67% more benefits to users

Vodafone has become the latest mobile operator to give up to 67% more data benefits to its pre-paid customers, a move which is in line with other telcos including Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular.

With Vodafone joining the race, the top three mobile operators, which control over 70% of the market, have all made data cheaper by 67% for its subscribers as they look to take on Reliance Jio Infocomm, which is likely to launch commercial 4G services in a couple of months.

Vodafone said under the Vodafone Delights bonanza, customers can now enjoy up to 67% more benefits on their existing packs.

Under the revised data benefits, the 3GB 3G/4G monthly recharge pack, which was earlier priced at approximately Rs 650 will now offer 5 GB data, an increase of 67% data quota. Similarly, the Rs 449 3G/4G pack now offers 50% more data by increasing the data benefit to 3GB from 2GB. The Rs 999 3G/4G pack will now offer 10 GB data, offering 54% more benefits.

Also, the Rs 39 2G sachet pack with 5-day validity now offers 225MB data vs 160 MB, while the Rs 12 3G/4G sachet pack with 1-day validity now offers 50 MB data vs 30MB.

Analysts believe that increasing mobile data affordability will further fuel mass market adoption as more subscribers will enter data users' category, driving strong data traffic growth, subsequently flowing through to telcos in the form of data revenues.