Reliance Jio Modifies Feature Phone Recharge Plans Approach After TRAI Scrutiny

Reliance Jio has modified its low-cost feature phone recharge offerings after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) raised concerns over tariffs being restricted to selected handsets, as per news reports.  

The regulator had stated that plans tied to specific devices could be viewed as discriminatory for consumers.  The telecom operator has now extended these recharge plans to 4G feature phones made by other handset companies.  

Earlier, the packs were limited to JioPhone and JioBharat users.  

Rival Handset Users Included 

Users of keypad-based 4G phones from brands including HMD Global, Lava International and itel can now access the same low-priced recharge plans through Jio’s network. The changes were reflected on the company’s website following communication with the regulator.  

According to reports citing people aware of the development, Jio informed TRAI that it had implemented the required changes after receiving directions from the regulator in March. The response is currently under review.  

Concerns Over Plan Availability 

TRAI had also questioned the availability of certain tariff plans only through offline retail channels. Last year, Jio had withdrawn some entry-level prepaid plans from online platforms and made them available only through stores.  

The regulator asked the company to publish all tariff offerings uniformly across its website, mobile application, and retail channels. Jio has reportedly discontinued some of the offline-only recharge options following the review.  

Entry-Level Recharge Pricing 

Jio’s ₹123 prepaid plan offers 28 days validity with unlimited voice calls, 0.5 GB daily data and 300 SMS messages. Rival telecom operators currently offer entry-level 4G plans starting at around ₹199.  

The company launched JioPhone in 2017 with a refundable security deposit of ₹1,500. JioBharat devices were later introduced at a starting price of ₹999, with some models now listed from ₹699 onwards.  

Feature Phone Market Remains Large 

Counterpoint Research estimates India has around 220 million feature phone users, including 35-40 million users on 4G feature phones. HMD accounts for over 70% of the segment, while JioBharat devices hold around 17% market share. 

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Conclusion 

Jio’s revised approach follows Trai’s objections to device-specific tariffs and offline-only recharge availability. The company has since expanded eligibility for its entry-level 4G plans. 

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