The Jio GigaFiber Effect: Broadband Plans With Extra Data on Offer

With Jio about to launch its broadband service, check out plans from other internet providers like Airtel.

Time to upgrade your broadband plan? 

(Photo: iStock)

Reliance Jio’s broadband debut is around the corner and most internet service providers in the country are prepping for it in their own way. Many claim that Jio will repeat its 4G mobile formula in the wired internet segment, which means more good days in the offing for consumers in the country.

But hang on, Jio isn’t going to have its easy, as its competitors will look to retain their users and at the same time add new consumers to their base. This is why Airtel, ACT Broadband and even BSNL are offering some interesting offers to entice people to not jump ship when Jio GigaFiber comes in.

Here’s a look at some of the offers that you can avail right away.

Airtel

We’ve seen Airtel and Jio battling in the mobile space, and a similar battle will ensue in the broadband segment later this year. Until then, Airtel is trying different methods to entice users. The telco has revised its internet plans recently.

As you can see below, its new plans start from Rs 799, with unlimited local and STD calls and speeds up to 300Mbps. The interesting thing to note here is the amount of data allotted to each of these plans.

(Photo: Airtel screengrab)

Reliance Jio vs Airtel - Time for the broadband battle. (Photo: The Quint)

While regular usage comes to about 1,200GB, until 31 October 2018, users get additional data up to 1,000GB. This seems like a ploy to counter Jio GigaFiber’s launch, which is likely to offer similar data speeds and usage.

In addition to that, you can avail data roll over, which lets you carry forward all the unused GBs from the previous month. There’s also an Amazon Prime subscription on offer, which is available to anyone who’s going for plans starting from Rs 999 on Airtel.

For existing broadband users on Airtel, they will get bonus data up to 100GB every couple of months, which is likely to keep them happy.

ACT Fibernet

ACT Fibernet is another domestic player in the broadband space with its fiber-optic cable services. The company offers internet plans with speeds up to 1Gbps, but for now, it is focused on revising its existing plans that come with 100Mbps speed.

The extra data is valid till 28 February, 2019. (Photo: ACT screengrab)

As seen in the graph above, ACT Fibernet has recently slashed the prices of its data plans in most parts of the country.

Its most affordable 100Mbps plan got a price cut of Rs 400 without cutting down on the data bandwidth. Instead, you get additional 1,000 GB data, on the 500 and 1,000 GB plans. Not bad, right? It also has an offer that gets you a free Google Home Mini smart speaker, if you’re a new user.

BSNL

Believe it or not, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is still the leading broadband player in the country. And in order to battle it out with Jio GigaFiber, the public-owned entity is trying its best to match its rivals.

BSNL has rolled out a new plan worth Rs 995, which comes with 200GB of data but speeds are rather disappointing at just 20Mbps.

Post usage of 200GB, speed will come down to 2Mbps for the rest of the billing period. 

Also, it is worth noting that the plan isn’t available PAN India, so we suggest you check with a BSNL outlet in your city for latest plans on offer.

Others Worth Checking Out

If you’re not impressed with Airtel, ACT Fibernet or BSNL’s offers, then you can also check out other internet providers like Spectra, Excitel and Gigatel among others. Most of these are available in Delhi-NCR, but you can check out its availability on the respective websites.