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I am NOT saying other operators were NOT looting, before jio days. Yes, they have looted and will continue to do so, if they get the slightest chance, even now. No doubts in that. I do agree that, people are getting huge benefits as well. I am NOT against the benefits for mass. I wholeheartedly welcome this. But why they are NOT caring about high ARPU users??? Do you think, they got profit, just from Jio's operations ALONE and NOT from funds of RIL??? Do you think, they will get returns for the 2.5 Lakh Crores, (this amount is as big as budget of few small countries) by offering to masses only? No, they need to concentrate on high ARPU users as well. I will be more happy, if they offered balanced services like, Rs49 Limited plan for feature phone users and Bulk benefits for high ARPU users. I am NOT losing anything, if Idea or Airtel goes to loss (they already are. Idea for 1 year & Airtel from last qtr for India operations). But lack of competition is a HUGE loss for customers. With NO competition, there will be NO need to ensure quality services. Already CC of Jio is the worst. Guess, the situation, when there is NO or little competition? It is much worse than Rs296/GB, imho. Reg "Revival of Looting Era" -- I don't think it will be as severe as AVoId days of Rs296 per GB for sure. At the max, it can go to Rs303 -- 1GB per day for 28 days. When saying LOSS to customers, it is NOT just about money -- It is loss of quality -- It is the loss of Choice -- It is the loss of peace of mind. With NO competition, your money is valueless. That is the real loss.

You may disagree, but the fact is that by giving away dirt cheap offers they can easily surpass Airtel (number of subscribers) by the next year & as far as ARPU is concerned they are already well off (reporting profits) so there is no need to concentrate on improving it, at least at the moment - when they are looking for more subscribers. This can be addressed as "Killing the competition" but just think what was happening before the entry of Jio - all telecom operators were simply LOOTING. Now Jio has emerged as a "Robin Hood" and may be killing the competition, but who is benefited - We the users (remember 80%of Indian population is still poor). This is the reason why they are after masses and not merely after the bunch of high ARPU customers. I would like to say that when the things are beyond our control & we can't do anything about the present situation it is better to enjoy the cheap data till the "Looting Era" revives again if ever (although not expected).

Idea Cellular slashed the rates of its 4G, 3G BIG Internet packs by upto 67%, providing more value to heavy internet users who consume data packs of 2GB to 10 GB. Last week, Idea had announced the price reduction by 45% in its sachet data packs. Idea is now offering 10 GB 4G, 3G data pack for just Rs. 990. Idea’s 2 GB data is now priced at just Rs 349, as against the earlier price of Rs 449. Idea users will now get 5 GB of 4G and 3G data at Rs 649 – a 67% more value than 3GB data earlier. Idea’s new BIG Internet packs will give both postpaid and prepaid data users the convenience to download movies, stream songs and play online games without worrying about data balance. Commenting on the recent rate revision, Mr. Sashi Shankar, Chief Marketing Officer, Idea Cellular, said, “While the price reduction in our sachet data packs was aimed at inducting more users into the world of internet; the reduction in rates of BIG Recharge packs now, is aimed at delivering significantly higher Value for Money to our regular internet users. Our consumer research studies have indicated a growing demand for affordable high volume internet packs which we are aiming to fulfil with the new offers.” http://rtn.asia/t-t/20323/following-airtel-idea-cellular-also-slashes-4g-rates-ahead-reliance-jio-launch Airtel has today slashed data tariffs for its 2G, 3G and 4G prepaid users. In essence, the company has increased the amount of data one gets on each plan by up to 67 percent. Airtel’s announcement comes days after Idea Cellular too slashed prepaid data tariffs by up to 45 percent. The moves come after reports of Reliance Jio planning to launch its services next month. Even if it doesn’t launch commercially, Reliance Jio is expanding its free Preview Offer from just LYF smartphones to Samsung Galaxy smartphones and even Apple iPhones. Under the revised plans, a user opting for Rs 655 monthly pack will now get 5GB of 4G data as opposed to 3GB earlier. In other words, the user gets 67 percent data benefit. Similarly, users opting for Rs 989 or Rs 455 plans will get 10GB (up from 6.5GB) and 3GB (up from 2GB) data respectively. http://www.bgr.in/news/reliance-jio-effect-airtel-slashes-data-tariffs-for-prepaid-plans-by-up-to-67-percent/ Now RJio 4G plans are costlier than Airtel and Idea. Expecting Vodafone to also match the Airtel and Idea rates.

Seems like the deal (Number of suitcases to DoT from RIM) got finalized after a very very long bargaining...

2G scam: Journalist offers bribe to ED official; scribe, Radia deny links source :: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/telecom/2g-scam-journalist-offers-bribe-to-ed-official-scribe-radia-deny-links/articleshow/8148785.cms As we've seen from the start, the journalists like Barkha Dutt and Vir Sanghvi were burning midnight oil to fix A.Raja as telecom minister during government formation. It can never be possible that they've worked without any financial favor from corporates. Let us hope these shoddy journalists are brought to justice to clean up our muddy media.