Ahead of its optical fibre broadband services commercial launch, Reliance Jio has dropped the refundable security deposit on Jio GigaFibre for the trial period to ₹2,500 from ₹4,500.
Also, during the trial period Jio is offering free services for three months where consumers will get speeds of 100MBps and data usage of 100GB per month. The pricing includes the set top box to access Internet services and a fixed line telephone.
The reduced prices may be seen as a strategic move to attract more consumers thus generating more demand, paving the way for the recently spun off Reliance Jio’s Jio Fibre Private Limited to expand its services.
According to a market source, RJio is adding nearly 10,000 users each month in the trial phase.
Having disrupted the wireless data market, initiating a price war, Reliance Jio with this new introductory offer is set to give its competitors a run for their money.
Growing subscriber base
Reliance Jio was the only company to grow its subscriber base amidst the dip in wireless subscribers, adding 9.3 million subscribers to its network in March as per the TRAI report. Jio GigaFibre’s network is based on Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) technology and promises high speed wired broadband connectivity . The company is planning to bundle IPTV also once the service is launched commercially.
“Jio's motto is simple, We are determined to connect everyone and everything, everywhere, always at the highest quality and the most affordable price,” Mukesh Ambani, said at the Reliance Industries’ 41st AGM.
Last year, RJio unveiled a plan to expand its optical fibre network simultaneously across 1,100 cities. “Fixed-line broadband offers hundreds of megabits, even gigabits per second of data speeds. Jio is determined to move India to among the top 5 in fixed-line broadband,” Ambani had said then, adding JioGigaFibre, which is now undergoing beta trials, would be the largest greenfield fixed-line broadband roll out anywhere in the world. Reliance Jio also picked up majority stake in Den and Hathway Cable in a bid to speed up the broadband roll out.
An email seeking comments from Reliance Jio did not elicit any response.
The writer is an intern with BusinessLine Mumbai bureau