Vodafone offers Double Data at same prices to take on Jio

UK-headquartered telecom operator,Vodafone on Wednesday began offering double 4G data usage under existing schemespriced above Rs 255, which in effect slashes prices by 50 per cent, to take onMukesh Ambani-run Reliance Jio.

The move comes in retaliation to RelianceJio extending its free services offer by three months to March 31. Clearly,Vodafone does not want to lose market share to Jio which has deep pockets.

All Vodafone 4G pre-paidcustomers can now avail 'Double Data' benefits on existing market packs andwill enable Vodafone customers to enjoy an enhanced mobile internet experience,the company said. This offer is applicable on all 4G market packs starting fromRs 255, Vodafone said in a statement. Under this offer Vodafone customers willget 2 GB of 4G data usage for Rs 255 instead of 1GB offered earlier. Similarly,Rs 459 plan will offer 6 GB of 4G data, Rs 559 plan 8GB, Rs 999 plan 20GB andRs 1999 plan 40 GB. All plans will be valid for 28 days.

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"We are confident that thisvalue offering will further enhance mobile internet experience for ourcustomers and will enable them to experience the world of Vodafone SuperNet4Gto the fullest,'' said Apoorva Mehrotra, Business Head, DelhiNCR. Reliance Jiois offering free 4G data benefit for its customers till March 31,2017.

Earlier, the scheme was to end onDecember 31, 2016 for customers who bought Jio sim by December 3. Jio's offer ofcheap data and free voice services has forced rivals including Vodafone to cut pricesearlier as well. Vodafone Group Plc. had last month written down the value oitsIndian business by 5 billion (around Rs36,460 crore), citing increasedcompetition in the country's telecom market, causing its global first-half lossto double.

The UK-based telco's net losssurged to 5.1 billion in the six months to 30 September, compared with a netloss of 2.5 billion a year earlier.

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