BSNL takes on Reliance Jio, offers 1GB data for Re 1 in BB249 broadband plan

In a bid to take on Reliance Jio's plans - touted to be the cheapest in the world - BSNL has announced plans to launch a promotional unlimited wireline broadband plan that effectively translates into less than Re 1 per GB download cost for subscribers if they use up to 300GB data in a month.

Attempting to take Reliance Jio's 4G offer of Rs 50 per GB head-on, BSNL is looking to hook new customers to its wireline broadband offering.

"BSNL is going to launch a very cost-effective and affordable promotional unlimited Broadband plan 'Experience Unlimited BB 249' from 9 September 2016," the telecom PSU said in a statement.

The plan will enhance the customer experience towards wireline broadband services and attract new users to experience BSNL broadband services, the corporation's Chairman cum Managing Director Anupam Shrivastava said in a statement.

"Under this plan, customers can download unlimited Broadband data without bothering about any data limit in GB. BSNL shall offer 2 Mbps speed under this plan," the statement said.

BSNL said that if customers use the plan continuously in a month, they can download upto 300 GB data by paying Rs 249.

"Hence, per GB of data download cost comes out as less than Re 1 per GB. After six months, customer will be migrated to one of the regular broadband plan based on the choice of the customer," BSNL said.

Shrivastava added that BSNL is the only operator offering lowest per GB data download cost plan under broadband services in the country.

At Reliance Industries BSE 0.52 %' 42th Annual General Meeting yesterday, Chairman Mukesh Ambani had said data must be "affordable". He had said that against the prevailing market rate of Rs 250 per GB, Jio's rates will be Rs 25-50 per GB depending on data usage. Reliance Jio 4G services is targeting 100 million customers in the shortest time possible.

Meanwhile, BSNL also said that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Telecom Department regarding performance based targets assigned to the telecom PSU.

"BSNL signs MoU with Department of Telecom every year wherein certain parameter performance based targets are assigned to BSNL, by DOT and DPE (Department of Public Enterprises). On the basis of annual achievement vis-a vis targets of the MoU, DPE evaluates company's performance and accordingly awards rating to BSNL," the release added.

--PTI