BSNL’s lifetime free voice call service: Will that be a threat to other telcos ?

BSNL, the state telecom network has been aggressively introducing new plans after the introduction of Reliance Jio. As we already know, the Mukesh Ambani- led Reliance Jio offers free voice calls for all its users as it uses data to make calls.

However, we have earlier reported that BSNL free calls will be live from January 2017 and they will be uber cheap as well. According to Anupam Shrivastava, Chairman and managing director of BSNL told TOI that the telco is planning to launch the service Rs. 2 to Rs. 4 cheaper than Jio. Also, it is worth noticing that 70 percent of the revenue in telecom industry comes from voice calls itself.

That being said, we now have a conclusive information regarding the BSNL’s launch of free voice calls plan. The big question is- ‘Will other private telecoms be affected with this move of BSNL?’. The answer will be partially, yes.

BSNL is considering this move because of the new entrant- Reliance Jio as they are offering free voice calls with every tariff plan. However, other telecoms such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular never had any conversation related to this after the announcement of Jio to general public.

As stated earlier, BSNL has been very aggressive ever since the announcement of Reliance Jio to general public and late last month, they launched a new BSNL Freedom Plan of Rs. 135, which will be valid for 760 days (2 years). Also, there were some other plans as well where users will be able to make free BSNL calls on Sundays with the BSNL BB249,however, that comes into the broadband sector.

Wrapping it up, if BSNL ever launches the free lifetime voice calling scheme, then the company will surely be back into the business and can bring back the telecoms good old days, which they lost after the establishment of private networks such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India.