No more free broadband: Reliance starts billing JioFiber broadband users
What's the story
JioFiber broadband users, who have been enjoying free internet access as part of the preview offer, will soon have to start paying for the service. According to The Economic Times, Reliance Jio has "started billing new customers and is asking existing users to select home broadband packs" as it aims to migrate around 5 lakh trial users to specific commercial tariff plans.
Onboarding process
Free home broadband services to be discontinued shortly
Citing a person familiar with Reliance Jio's plan, ET reports that "existing customers who had opted for the trials are being told that free home broadband services will be discontinued shortly and they need to migrate to specific JioFiber plans to stay connected." As per the report, the onboarding exercise is likely to be completed in phases, over a month.
Tariffs
Users will have to choose from the existing plans
JioFiber offers a total of six broadband plans ranging from the entry-level 100Mbps Bronze plan worth Rs. 699 per month to the top-tier Titanium pack which costs Rs. 8,499/month and offers 1Gbps speed. Depending on the plans, you also get free voice calls, video calling, gaming, and exclusive entertainment services like Jio First-Day-First-Show and Jio VR with the premium plans.
Freebies
JioFiber also offers an attractive Welcome Offer
Further, as part of the Welcome Offer, the customers who subscribe to JioForever annual plans get more benefits. Under this offer, subscribers get free Jio Home Gateway device (worth Rs. 5,000), Jio 4K set-top box (worth Rs. 6,400), two months of extra service, double data benefits, as well as complimentary three-month access to subscriptions like JioSaavn, JioCinema, and other OTT services.
New options
Jio has also launched a couple of affordable plans
Notably, the company recently launched a couple of affordable plans for JioFiber users. The Rs. 351 (excluding taxes) monthly plan offers 50GB data at 10Mbps download speeds for 30 days along with unlimited voice calls and complimentary TV video calling benefits. There's also a Rs. 199 weekly plan which offers unlimited data at 100Mbps speed along with unlimited calling and free TV video calling.