Business Standard

Bharti Airtel vs Reliance Jio: How the two stack up

Image

Business Standard
BHARTI AIRTEL
  • Rolls out fourth-generation (4G) data service across 296 cities
  • Airtel's service is India's first FDD-LTE 4G on 1,800 MHz in six circles. FDD (Frequency-Division Duplex) gives better reception. For other cities, Airtel will offer service on 2,300 MHz. Spectrum in multiple frequencies are expected to give seamless voice and data experience
  • Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, Lenovo, Asus and Huawei handsets to come with Airtel 4G data plans. Bharti Airtel strikes alliance with Samsung to educate customers on its 4G. Handset prices start from Rs 6,000 a piece and go up to Rs 47,999 a piece. Also ties up with Flipkart
  • Offers unlimited voice, free with data packs. Prices 3GB data and unlimited calls within Airtel's network at Rs 999/month. In Rs 1,999, 7GB data free, with unlimited local and STD calls and free roaming
  • Offers free movies on Wynk Movies and Wynk Music to consumers as add-on services

 
RELIANCE JIO
  • Plans to launch in 18,000 cities and towns across 29 states. By December, service will be offered across 80% of these towns
  • Jio is the only operator in the world providing digital service over an end-to-end all-IP network. Has pan-India spectrum in 2,300 MHZ and will offer Voice over LTE (VOLTE) in most circles. Additional spectrum in 1,800 MHz acquired in 14 circles, which can deliver superior voice service
  • Jio ties up with 26 handset makers to manufacture handsets for the Indian market. Likely to launch Jio-branded 4G-enabled handsets at Rs 4,000 a piece at the time of the launch
  • Expected to offer voice free, with data, which is expected to be priced at between Rs 400 and Rs 600 a pack
  • Jio has a host of service offerings starting with video-on-demand to Jio Money (online payment services), Jio Chat (app to do word and video chats), Jio Beats to offer music streaming service

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Aug 07 2015 | 12:40 AM IST

Explore News