Jio Effect: How To Avail BSNL's 50% Extra Offer

With Diwali 2017 just around the corner, BSNL or Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has announced a new scheme offering 50 per cent extra talk-time along with full talk-time on select recharge packs. A limited-period scheme, BSNL's Diwali 'Laxmi' offer will open from October 16 to October 21, 2017, the telecom company said on its website - bsnl.co.in. The new offer by BSNL comes at a time when the country's telecom industry is witnessing high competition due to aggressive mobile data pricing by Reliance Jio. Under BSNL's Laxmi offer, BSNL prepaid users buying a recharge of Rs 290 will get a talk-time or talk value of Rs 435 during the six-day period, the state-run telecom company added.

"50% extra than Full Talk Time on Top-Up of Rs.290/390/590 (e.g., Talk Value of Rs. 435 will be given on the Top-Up of Rs. 290)," BSNL said. Aggressive data pricing and free voice calling offers by Reliance Jio - which provides telecom services under brand name Jio - has caused many incumbent telecom operators to announce new schemes, say some analysts.

Under a separate limited-period scheme, BSNL is offering unlimited on-net (BSNL-to-BSNL calls) local and STD calls along with 1GB of mobile data per day for a validity of 28 days at Rs 249, according to its website. BSNL's promotional STV or special tariff voucher of Rs 249 is available till October 25, 2017, it said.

Reliance Jio has launched several plans to its prepaid and postpaid customers, offering unlimited calls and low priced mobile data. With a new recharge pack priced at Rs. 399, Jio customers get 1 GB of data per day at 4G speed for 84 days along with free voice calls, SMS (short message service) and access to MyJio app services. Under a plan priced at Rs. 149, Jio offers unlimited local and STD calls to mobile or landline numbers across India plus 2 GBs of data for 28 days.

Jio has also launched a new recharge plan at Rs. 349, which comes with 20s GB of 4G data with a validity of 56 days without any daily limit. You can use the entire 20 GBs of data even in one day or spend it over 56 days. After you consume the 56 GBs of high speed data, the internet speed will be reduced to 128 kbps, Jio said.