If all family members have mobile connection from one mobile operator only then they can save a lot on their expenses on telecom bills. Some operators offers CUG plans for a low monthly fee by which they can make unlimited free calls among them but calling out of this CUG and to other network costs more.

Idea, Reliance Communications (RCOM) and Vodafone have some post paid plans which comes with bundled free benefits in the form of voice minutes, number of SMS and data in GBs with a facility to share these freebies among members of plans. This concept of sharing of plan came from USA where almost all carriers offers shareable plan.

So let us see what these shareable plans of Idea, RCOM and Vodafone offers.

RCOM’s All Share postpaid plans

Reliance has one shareable postpaid plan at monthly rental of Rs. 1497 and all the freebies of this plan can be shared among 3 users. Additional members (up to total of 9) may also be added for a monthly fee of Rs 499 and in exchange of this fee, RCOM add some more freebies to share

Below is the detail of All Share Postpaid plan

As per above details, for a family of four members total monthly bill would be Rs 1497+3×499= Rs 2994 and for this amount all members have 3000+3×1000= 6000 minutes, 3000+3×1000= 6000 SMS and 3GB+3x1GB= 6GB data to share among them.

Reliance All share plan is available across India for all postpaid subscribers whether on GSM or CDMA .

Idea Easy Share postpaid plans

Idea has two shareable plans dubbed as “Easy Share” for monthly rental of Rs 900 and Rs 1400. Easy share postpaid plan also offers bundled freebies of Data, Voice & SMS to share. The plan is meant for one user but additional members can be added for a monthly fee of Rs 99. Maximum 9 members can be added to one Easy Share plan.

Easy plan is available in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh West.

See the details of both Easy Share plans

As per above details, for a family of four members total monthly bill would be Rs 1400+3×99= Rs 1697 if they opt for 10GB plan. For this much monthly rental, all members have 1500 minutes, 750 SMS and 10GB data to share among them.

Idea has also introduced Easy share plan for prepaid customers also for which the operator has brought five donor packs priced at Rs 158, Rs 258, Rs 458, Rs 658 and Rs 958.

These donor packs has bundled benefits of voice, sms and data as shown below

• Rs 158 Pack: 110 Local/ National minutes, 110 Local/National SMS and 250MB 3G Data, validity 15 days
• Rs 258 Pack: 250 Local/ National minutes, 250 Local/National SMS and 500MB 3G Data, validity 30 days
• Rs 458 Pack: 450 Local/ National minutes, 500 Local/National SMS and 1GB 3G Data, validity 30 days
• Rs 658 Pack: 700 Local/ National minutes, 750 Local/National SMS and 1.5GB 3G Data, validity 30 days
• Rs 958 Pack: 1000 Local/ National minutes, 1000 Local/National SMS and 3GB 3G Data, validity 30 days

To avail these donor packs benefits, first customer have to recharge with one of the above donor pack and then customer need to dial *121*121# to share minutes, SMS and Data. A service charge of Rs 1 – Rs 3 will be charged depending on quantity of benefit shared.

Vodafone Red postpaid plans.

Vodafone has five shareable plans for monthly rentals of Rs 499, Rs 899, Rs 1299, Rs 1599 and Rs 1999. Vodafone allows to add maximum 6 members in a group, one primary and 5 secondary members. All members must be on Vodafone Red plans in any combination i.e. two may opt for Rs 499 plan, three may go for Rs 899 plan and one may opt for Rs 1299 plan. All members in a group can then share the all the benefits of all their Red Plans among them.

The details of Vodafone Red plans are given below

• Monthly Rental Rs 499 RED: 1000 free Local/STD minutes, 500 Local/National SMS and 500MB data
• Monthly Rental Rs 899 RED: 2000 free Local/STD minutes, 1000 Local/National SMS and 2GB data
• Monthly Rental Rs 1299 RED: 4000 free Local/STD minutes, 1500 Local/National SMS and 3GB data
• Monthly Rental Rs 1599 RED: 6000 free Local/STD minutes, 2000 Local/National SMS and 5GB data
• Monthly Rental Rs 1999 RED: 8000 free Local/STD minutes, 2500 Local/National SMS and 8GB data

If in a group, all members go for Rs 499 plan then they all have total 4000 minutes, 2000 SMS and 2GB data.

Based on the details given above, now you can see yourself, which operator is giving more benefits for your money. It is clear that RCOM is giving more voice call minutes while Idea is giving more data to share. You can decide as per your need.

Aircel and Uninor both are offering 2G data packs at affordable rates but this time,  Aircel has intensifies the 2G data tariff war in Maharashtra.

Aircel has slashed the tariffs of its popular 2G data packs. The price of 1GB of 2G data pack has been slashed from Rs 98 to Rs 79, the validity is intact at 28 days. The other 2G data pack offering 1.3GB data is now costing Rs 98 in place of its earlier price of Rs 128, an approx 24% benefit to prepaid customers.

Aircel have reduced 2G data tariffs in Maharashtra only while in other circles its 1GB of 2G data pack still costs Rs 128.

In Maharasthra 2G data packs offered by Uninor costs Rs 84 for 1GB data pack having validity of 28 days. State owned BSNL now a days offers 3G data packs only, its 1GB data pack costs Rs 155 having validity of 28 days.

Fine prints of all these three Internet providers shows that after consuming the data allowed in data packs, additional data usage is charged at 15p/10KB by Aircel while Uninor charges at the rate of 20p/20KB and BSNL charges at the rate of 2p/10KB only.

Aircel has started offering 4G LTE data services with use of Wi-Fi router in Guwahati. To avail 4G LTE data services, customers have to purchase Wi-Fi CPE which has price tag of Rs 2500 (excluding taxes) and have to insert a 4G USIM , which may be taken from Aircel shop. You can connect your 4G enabled smartphone, tablet to this wi-fi router. It has almost 20 meter coverage area.

Aircel is offering five 4G LTE plans starting from Rs 999 for 10GB and then at Rs 1349 for 15GB, at Rs 1999 for 25GB, at Rs 2999 for 50GB and at Rs 4799 for 100GB.

Details of 4G LTE Plans are as follows:

4G super home 999: It offers unlimited data usage out of which 10GB data at 4G LTE speed. After 10GB data usage, the speed is throttled to 512Kbps for next 1GB data usage and beyond which, the speed is again throttled to 256Kbps for rest of the billing cycle.

4G super home 1349:  It offers unlimited data usage out of which 15GB data at 4G LTE speed. After 15GB data usage, the speed is throttled to 512Kbps for next 1.5GB data usage and beyond which, the speed is again throttled to 256Kbps for rest of the billing cycle.

4G super home 1999:  It offers unlimited data usage out of which 25GB data at 4G LTE speed. After 25GB data usage, the speed is throttled to 1Mbps for next 2.5GB data usage and beyond which, the speed is again throttled to 512Kbps for rest of the billing cycle.

4G super home 2999:  It offers unlimited data usage out of which 50GB data at 4G LTE speed. After 50GB data usage, the speed is throttled to 1Mbps for next 5GB data usage and beyond which, the speed is again throttled to 512Kbps for rest of the billing cycle.

4G super home 4799:  It offers unlimited data usage out of which 100GB data at 4G LTE speed. After 100GB data usage, the speed is throttled to 1Mbps for next 10GB data usage and beyond which, the speed is again throttled to 512Kbps for rest of the billing cycle.

After using allowed 4G LTE data, the speed reduces but  you can restore 4G LTE speed by buying Add-Ons. Aircel has three Add-Ons as details below

Add Ons of Rs 500 which allows user to use 5GB data at 4G LTE speed so if you are subscribing 4G super home 999, you can enjoy 10GB+5GB at 4G speeds by loading this Add-On.

Add-On of Rs 1200 allows user to use 15GB at 4G LTE speed and Add-On of Rs 2500 allows 50GB at higher 4G LTE speed.

Aircel kept its pricing of 4G LTE plans matching with Airtel’s 4G LTE Plans. Unlike Aircel, Airtel is not offering add-ons for speed up your data usage. Aircel is offering 4G LTE services in Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Assam and Bihar while Airtel is offering in 17 cities. To compare it, Let us also see pricing of Airtel’s Wi-Fi pricing.

Airtel if offering 7 postpaid plans staring at Rs 595 for 3GB data usage at 4G LTE speed. Other 4G LTE plans are at Rs 995 for 10GB, Rs 1295 for 15GB, Rs 1995 for 30GB, Rs 2995 for 50GB, Rs 4995 for 100GB and Rs 7995 for 160GB. Airtel’s Wi-Fi router costs Rs 2500.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) today has announced launch of new data STVs as well as it has launched three days promos of offering 50% extra data on all existing STVs.

New Data STVs are priced at Rs 29 for 500MB data but this is valid for one night only from 11PM to 6AM. Other low prices data STV is priced at Rs 45 which will allow you to use 800MB data in one night from 11PM to 6AM.

Customers looking for long validity may choose new data STV priced at Rs 451 which will offer them 2GB for a longer validity of 60 days.

BSNL has also launched two new data STV on promotional basis only. One of  data STVs is priced at Rs 73 for 200MB data with 21 days validity and other data STV is priced at Rs 105 for 300MB and will come with 30 days validity. Promotion of these two data STV will be for 60 days only.

All these new data STVs will be available from 13-2-2015, just before valentine day.

To woo young generation on this valentine day, BSNL is launching special promotional offer of 50% extra data on all existing data STVs for three days, 13, 14 and 15 February-2015.

In smartphones days, when almost every mobile user uses instant messaging apps for sending free message, SMS packs have lost its importance but even then, those who still want SMS pack, BSNL has also launched a SMS pack priced at Rs 20 which will allow 1000 On-net SMS and has validity of 10 days only.

BSNL is considered the only PSU in India offering cheapest 3G data packs but now to sustain in this competitive telecom market, BSNL is hiking the tariffs of its 3G data packs in indirect way i.e. by reducing validity. That means BSNL customers need to load 3G data packs more frequently to cop up their data demands

Starting 23 February, 2015, BSNL is revising validity of its 3G data packs as shown in below picture.

Except data packs of Rs 17 and Rs 251, validity of all 3G data packs are going to be reduced by 1 or 2 days.

The validity of high priced data packs are going to be increased up to three times but this increase in validity is for a limited period, on promotional basis. On expiry of this promotional offer, the existing validity will come in effect.

Do you know BSNL has launched three new 3G data packs pricing at Rs 29 for 500MB, Rs 45 for 800MB and Rs 451 for 2GB having validity of 1 night, 1 night and 60 days respectively.  BSNL have also launched two more 3G data packs on promotional basis priced at Rs 73 for 200MB and Rs 105 for 300MB having validity of 21 days and 30 days respectively. Click here to know more about it.

Some BSNL prepaid 3G data pack customers are enjoying their unused data on next recharge but BSNL have noticed this flaw and has decided to stop this feature immediately. So henceforth these prepaid customers who are enjoying rollover of their 3G data, may feel discouraged on their next recharge when they will see that their data pack account starts from zero.

Understand this present flaw by an example, suppose one BSNL customer has loaded 3G data pack of Rs 176, he got 1GB with 28 days validity. If till 27th day, he consumes only 400MB data and he recharge with another Rs 176 on 27th day, he gets 1GB plus 600MB unused data, totaling 1.6GB data with another 28 days validity. But now onwards, customers will get  1GB only from next recharge.

BSNL have a variety of 3G data pack and customer may choose anyone as per their need and budget.

Have a look on all BSNL 3G data packs

BSNL today announced reduction of validity of its five data STVs meant for watching TV on the go. To be effective from 9-3-2015, the validity of data STV of Rs 178 and Rs 182 is going to be reduced from 30 days to 26 days.

Customers who are buying data STVs of Rs 82 and Rs 103, they will see new validity 12 days instead of present 15 days. They will also see reduction of free data allowance from 500MB to 450MB.

The new validity of data STV of Rs 211 will be 19 days instead of currently 21 days.

The details of no of channel though each data STV is given below.

Earlier to this, BSNL hiked tariff of these above data STVs on dated 13-6-2014

Telecomvibe wishes all of its readers a colorful Holi and here we also let you know the special offers on this occasion of Holi so that you can save money on your mobile phone.

Most of the Indian telecos have declared 6 March as blackout day, means your all STVs for reducing call charges or SMS will not work. You will be charged at normal rates of base plan for all your voice/ video calls and SMSs.
But you may use Viber app for voice calls or Whatsapp or any instant messaging app for sending holi message.

Except 6th march, you can enjoy different special offers on this occasion of holi.

Aircel is offering all local, STD and roaming calls at the rate of 10p/min for calls from Aircel to Aircel numbers. Existing customer need to load STV of Rs 63 that has validity of 28 days while new customers can load STV of Rs 93 which comes with validity of 30 days. Aircel also has Rs 1 recharge for unlimited Whatsapp and Facebook access for Mumbaikars.

Tata DoCoMo is offering 1GB 3G data pack at Rs 189 with 30 days validity and data pack of Rs 153 offers 700MB only in Kerala.

Airtel is offering, in Punjab, 1GB 3G data pack with 21 days validity for Rs 192 while data pack of Rs 198 offers 1.25GB 2G data with 28 days validity.

Videocon Teleocm is offering unlimited data usage at the speed of 2.75G EDGE for Rs 149 in Punjab circle and on the occasion of Holi, the teleco has brought most attractive offer for its customers,  unlimited free access to Whatsapp just for one day on 6 march.

BSNL and Reliance Communication have just now revised its popular data packs, either they have reduced the free data allowance of reduced the validity. The RCOM has reduced free data allowance from 1GB to 600MB only in its popular Rs 177 pack in Delhi circle but you may recharge with Rs 197 data pack which offers 1.25GB with unlimited access to Facebook/Whatsapp and Twitter for 30 days

If you just want to use Whatsapp then you may check out the costing of using it by clicking here.

Once again, BSNL has brought the fantastic offer for their ADSL Broadband customers, If you are using BSNL broadband services on your landline telephone connection and if you are facing frequent fault by which you couldn’t use your broadband services, then you can buy 3G dongle at very low price from BSNL.

BSNL has brought an attractive offer for their ADSL broadband customers under which it is offering 3G dongle 3.6Mbps at the damn low price of Rs 500 only for their customers who have opted annual payment options for their broadband connections.

Customers, who are using broadband plans, having fixed monthly charges (FMC) of Rs 600 or more, they can buy same 3G dongle 3.6Mbps for a little higher price of Rs 800.

In both cases, broadband customers will need to buy 3G USIM for Rs 59 along with plan voucher of Rs 96 which will allow them 500 MB free data usage, to be used within 30 days. Plan voucher has validity of one year.

The motive behind this offer is that in case of your ADSL broadband fault, you may not be deprived by using internet, you can access the Internet by this 3G Dongle. This dongle may also be used simultaneously by any one of your family members.

This offer is now on regular basis, starting from 16-3-2015, in all telecom circles across the country.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), is all set to launch a new data STV (Special Tariff Voucher) for its prepaid mobile subscribers on PAN India basis. The new data STV is priced at Rs 68 offering 1GB free 3G data usage but it has only validity of 10 days.

BSNL is launching this data STV for a promotional basis for 60 days starting from 1 April-2015.

This data STV is offering a good volume of free data but beyond this free data limit of 1GB, if prepaid customer continues to use data further without recharging any other data STV, the additional data will be charged at the rate of 2p/10KB. This rate for additional data is cheaper as compared to other mobile operators. It looks a meager rate but if you calculate for 500MB, you have to shell out a big amount of Rs 1000 so it is better to load a data STV as soon as possible.

BSNL, in its few telecom circles, was offering this STV-68 in the month of September-2014 but that time it was offering 1GB with validity of 12 days.

BSNL have other alternatives for 1GB data, it has STV at Rs 139, Rs 155 and Rs 177 offering same amount of 1GB data but with different validity of 19 days, 26 days and 28 days respectively.

Most Indian private mobile operators offers 1GB for Rs 250 with validity of 28 or 30 days but if you load this BSNL’s STV-68 three times in a month, you get 3GB for mere Rs 204 only for full 30 days.

Choice is yours now !

Customers of AT&T and Verizon in USA may have jealousy with customers on unlimited plan of T-Mobile and Sprint because their carrier don’t offer unlimited data plans and have stopped offering unlimited data plans to new customers way back in 2010 and 2012 respectively.

Existing grandfathered customers of AT&T and Verizon are still enjoying their unlimited data plans but both carriers tethers download speed for heavy users.

To quench new customers, let us see how limited are unlimited plan of T-Mobile and Sprint ?

T-Mobile

On the theme of Un-carrier, T-Mobile is very famous for its unlimited data plans but actually they are not unlimited. Once you hit a certain threshold on its faster, 4G LTE network, T-Mobile slow down the download  speed to 128 Kbps till remaining period of your billing cycle. Customers get back 4G speed when the next billing cycle starts.

T-Mobile also publicize its truly unlimited data plans at $80 but that too has catch, T-Mobile offers unlimited data at 4G speed on its own LTE network only. When T-Mobile customers enters in roaming area, T-Mobile limit the usage at 50MB after which they don’t get data service until they come back again on T-Mobile’s network.

Even in International roaming data plan, T-Mobile slow down the speed at about 128Kbps if their customers spend more than eligible period out of country.

Sprint

Sprint offers only one unlimited data plan for $60 a month but for heavy data users, those who uses more than 5GB a month, Sprint slow down download speed for them. Similar to T-Mobile, Sprint customers also face capping at 100MB when they enters in roaming area of other domestic carriers.

AT&T and Verizon

Both AT&T and Verizon have stopped offering unlimited data plans to new customers long ago but existing customers are enjoying unlimited data plan but that too with some policy guidelines.

AT&T have fixed threshold 5GB for 4G LTE phone users and 3GB for for 3G and non-LTE phone users. After this threshold, the speed reduces. Verizon says that it slow down speed of its top 5% heaviest users in congested area only.

Above restrictions are on cellular data but non of them put any restrictions on Wi-Fi data.

UAE is the most favorite destination for tourist, I was just planning to visit this beautiful country. Since my own country’s mobile operator is offering me a costly International roaming plan so I was searching for best plan for my Internet usage need there but couldn’t find a consolidated info then searched in my own way and found following information.

Etisalat and Du are two mobile service providers in UAE and offers data plans at 4G LTE speed in 1800 MHz frequency band. Prepaid users are popularly known as Wasel users. Since prepaid plan is best option for a short term visiting tourists so I focus on finding the alternatives of prepaid data plans. All plans are figured in AED (United Arab Emirates Dirham) but to guess the how much it will cost you, I am considering the current rate of conversion of one US dollar is equal to approx AED 3.67

Etisalat offers following data plans for mobile

• AED 5 : Unlimited daily plan with a capping at 50MB, after consuming this much data, the speed reduces.
• AED 20 : it offers 100MB with a validity of 7 days.
• AED 29 : It offers 100MB for one month but currently the operator is giving 250MB as a promotional offer.
• AED 99 : It offers 1GB data and comes with validity of one month.
• AED 149 : For heavy data users, this plan is useful because it offers 3GB with 30 days validity.
• AED 249 : It offers 5GB data which may be consumed within 30 days.
• AED 299 : It offers 10GB data with 30 days validity.
• AED 499 : It offers 20GB data with 30 days validity.

In all above plans, except daily plan, the additional data are charged at the rate of AED 1 per MB.

Du mobile operator also offers similar plans. Its data plans starts AED 2. Let us see Du’s data plans also.

• AED 2 : This plan allows access to social networking apps like Facebook, twitter, Whatsapp and Linkedin only. User can use these apps unlimited for whole one day.
• AED 5 : It offers 25MB for 24 hours.
• AED 20 : It offers 80MB data and comes with validity of 30 days.
• AED 50 : It offers 300MB data for 30 days.
• AED 100 : it offers 1GB data with one month validity.
• AED 150 : It offers 3GB data with one month validity.
• AED 200: It offers 5GB data with one month validity.
• AED 300 : It offers 10GB data with one month validity.
• AED 500 : It offers 25GB data with one month validity.

Now if we look at all data plans of above two mobile operators, We find that data plans of Etisalat is a little bit cheaper but Du offer higher data usage for its highest data plan. For social media addicted users, Du offers exclusive data plan at the cheapest rate.

Concluding the above info, you have to spend approx $27 for 1GB data usage, very costly as compared to other countries.

Sensing the mood of majority of prepaid data plan users, BSNL today introduced two new 3G data packs with MRP at Rs 241 and Rs 351 that will allow you unlimited data usage. These unlimited data packs are being launched as promotional offer and will be available for prepaid customers in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh only.

This offer will be available for 90 days from the date of its launch.

3G data STV priced at Rs 241 will offer unlimited data usage but user will be able to use first 1GB at high speed of 3G and when customer reach this data limit, the download speed will be reduced to 80Kbps.

3G data STV priced at Rs 351 will offer unlimited data usage but user will be able to use first 2GB at high speed of 3G and when customer reach this data limit, the download speed will be reduced to 80Kbps.

These both data STVs have validity of 28 days and will work with APN setting of bsnlnet only.

Above new data STVs are, at present, meant for Haryana and Himachal Pradesh only but looking at the response of users, BSNL may offer these data STVs for prepaid customers in other telecom circles of the country.

Other option: For users who want just fast Internet speed may try 1GB data pack @Rs 68 having validity of 10 days eventually they will get 3GB for just Rs 204 for 30 days.

BSNL was offering prepaid Wi-Fi services at Major Ghats of Varanasi city at affordable rates but now the PSU has revised the existing tariff of prepaid Wi-Fi services at Major Ghats of Varanasi city as well as the same revised tariffs has been introduced for all customers on PAN India basis.

As you can see above, initially, BSNL was not offering free Wi-Fi services but now prepaid customers can enjoy free Wi-Fi services for first 20 minutes in a day or maximum 3 occasions in a month for the same mobile number.

The tariff has been revised from 50% to 214% for Varanasi customers. The existing plan of Rs 20 has been revised to Rs 30, The existing plan of Rs 30 has been revised to Rs 50, the existing plan of Rs 50 has been revised to Rs 90 and the existing plan of Rs 70 has been revised to Rs 150.

The revised tariff has been implemented on immediate basis on PAN India basis

[USA] T-Mobile and AT&T are allowing their customers to carry-forward their unused data for use in next months but Republic Wireless on Monday came with an innovative plan and announced the imminent launch of a new beta service plan by which customers will get credit for their unused data although the MVNO, the Republic Wireless didn’t disclosed the pricing of this forthcoming plan.

Today Google followed the idea of Republic Wireless and announced its MVNO services with “Project Fi” along with pricing of plan.

Google will offer  telecom plans at affordable pricing, the basic plan will cost just $20 for unlimited voice and text plus WiFi tethering and free roaming  in 120 countries.

Google will provide services by using a combination of WiFi and cellular networks for which Google have partnered with Sprint and T-Mobile for the traditional cellular calls and for the WiFi, Google have identified 1 million hotspot. Google further says that Project Fi will automatically switch your smartphone between WiFi and Cellular network based on strength of the network.

Data usage in WiFi network will be free but the customers will be charged for cellular data at the rate of $10 per 1GB hence if a customer opts a plan for 3GB, he/she has to pay $30.

Like Republic Wireless, Google will also credit the value of your unused data and pricing has also announced. The credit for unused data will be given at the same rate of $10/GB.

Suppose a customer opted a 3GB data plan and used only 1.6GB only in whole month then he/she will get the credit for unused data 1.4 GB  ($14).

The pricing of Google Fi looks attractive but it is pretty much in line with pricing of other carriers, look at below table

Google is offering Project Fi through its own Nexus 6 smartphone which has inbuilt ability of Project Fi so right now Nexus 6 owners can avail this phone service of Google.

Looking at the offers of all four carriers, it looks, Google is the best option to value for your unused data until Republic Wireless announce the pricing for unused data.

It is not so long time when BSNL had stopped their prepaid customers to carry forward their unused data but now BSNL customers may jump again with joy because BSNL have realised the competition from its rivals who are offering data carry forward facility and the PSU has announced today to withdraw its earlier stand i.e. now onwards BSNL customer can carry forward their unused data.

This faciliy will be available to BSNL customers in all four zones across the coutry.

Today’s announcement will give a great relief to those prepaid data customers who are not able to use their full data allowance before the exiry of validity. Henceforth such customers, if load a data STV before exirty of validity, their unused data will carry forward to next validity period.

Suppose a customer load data STV of Rs 155 which allows him 1GB data with validity of 26 days and he uses merely 700MB data till 25th day. If he load again a data STV of Rs 155 again, he will get 1GB afresh and will be able to use total 1.3GB within validity period of 26 days.

Airtel, Relianc Communication and Tata DoCoMo also offer the same data carry-forward facility to their customer.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) said that the company is following other mobile operators while designing tariff plan for mobile services but this time BSNL is bringing one another innovative tariff plan for social media users i.e. who are using Whatsapp or Facebook.

BSNL today announced one data STV for prepaid users, which has validity of full 30 days and is reasonably priced at Rs 56. You may find this data STV in your telecom circle with variation of plus or minus of Rs 3. This data STV will allow you freebie of 250MB of 3G data after which additional data will be charged @2p/10KB.

Postpaid users can add the new add-on plan of 250MB which will add Rs 50 in their monthly bill. BSNL is liberal for their Postpaid users because after exhausting this free data of 250MB, the additional data will be charged at the rate of 1p/10KB.

This new 250MB data plan for both prepaid and postpaid users will be available from 16 July 2015 in all telecom circles across the country.

Thailand is a very beautiful place and is a main attraction for tourist from all over the world. Due to fare conversion price of its currency (currently one US dollar is equal to approx 35 Thai Bhat) , it is the most preferred country for tourist. If you use your mobile phone plan of your country in roaming in Thailand, it may cost you more but you can make your stay pleasant and may be in touch with your friend and relative by buying  local cheaper phone plans from local mobile operator in Thailand.

Getting local mobile phone plan is also easy, even you may order online and can get the prepaid SIM at the airport on your arrival in Thailand.

Five mobile operators are providing mobile services in Thailand and six MVNOs are also selling mobile SIM cards by riding on the network of all these main mobile operators.

Out of five mobile operators, AIS is the largest mobile operator and has the largest coverage network and market share followed by other two mobile operators, DTAC and Truemove-H.

All these major three mobile operators offers prepaid SIM cards with attractive offerings to tourists. Let us have a look the offers.

AIS has three Traveller SIM plans.

• Traveller SIM for individual which costs 299 Bhat and offers credit of 100 Bhat for voice calls plus 1.5 GB data. Internet usage is unlimited but after crossing 1.5GB data, the speed reduces to 64Kbps.
• Traveller SIM for Group. Each SIM costs 199 Bhat and offers credit of 15 Bhat for voice calls plus 500MB data. The attractive feature is that members in the Group are allowed to make unlimited free calls
• Traveller Group Sharing SIM which costs 459 Bhat which offers 3GB of data and unlimited calling among three SIMs. It doesn’t offer any free credit so all calls out of group will be charged.

DTAC has following three tourists SIM Plans.

• Happy tourist SIM for 229 Bhat which comes with 7 days validity and offers 30min voice calls, 1GB of 3G data. Internet usage is unlimited but after crossing 1GB data, the speed reduces to 384Kbps.
• Happy tourist SIM for 429 Bhat which comes with 30 days validity and offers 30min voice calls, 3GB of 3G data.
• Happy tourist SIM for 700 Bhat which comes with 30 days validity and offers 50min voice calls, 6GB of 3G/4G data.

DTAC has all plans for individual tourist only and it doesn’t offer any plan for tourist in group or group sharing as AIS offers.

True Move has only one useful tourist SIM which costs 299 Bhat and offers 100Bhat calling credit and unlimited internet for 7 days. User can access Internet at maximum speed of 42Mbps up to 1.5GB after which speed reduced to max 128Kbps.

As we can see, almost all three major operators offers same tourist plan but AIS offers for groups also. The group SIM may be useful if you are going Thailand in group and individual is visiting on separate itineraries.

You may not use voice calls as extensively but you need Internet to be in touch with friends on social media, checking mails and to use Google map for easy touring so unlimited Internet offer is a great help.

Concluding for a tourist: Plan for 299 Bhat ( $8.56) from any of above three mobile operator is the most appealing for stay in Thailand.

BSNL is on the footprint of other private mobile operator that is why BSNL today announced to hike the fixed monthly charge (FMC) for 1GB data for postpaid subscribers from Rs 140 to Rs 170 and the new FMC will be applicable from the month starting from 1 August 2015.

The postpaid subscribers, who love annual payment plans, have to pay more for annual advance payment option. The new price for them is Rs 1915 in place of existing Rs 1575.

Postpaid subscribers were enjoying low charges of 1GB data in their monthly bill since long but today have been caught and they have to pay more from coming month.

Prepaid customer don’t have choice to select any 1GB data plan with validity of 30 days although BSNL have two 1GB data STV for Rs 139 which have validity of 15 days only while the other one is priced at Rs 155 and comes with validity of 22 days.

For validity conscious customers, BSNL have one data STV of Rs 256 which offers 250MB of data and comes with validity of 30 days.

BSNL recently announced following changes in their offerings for their prepaid GSM subscribers.

First of all, those who are using 1GB data pack for Rs 68, they will now have to consume it within 5 days only because BSNL have revised its validity from 7 day to 5 days and it has already affected with effect from 6 August 2015.

Secondly the offer of free 50 MB data (to be consumed within 7 days) offered with every recharge of Top-up of Rs.100, Rs.200  has been withdrawn so now onwards, when you don’t get 50 MB data on your next recharge, don’t get panic.

To celebrate the India’s auspicious occasion of 69th Independence day, BSNL have announced a slew of following attractive offers as below.

For high data users, BSNL has increased validity of following four data STVs priced at Rs 561, Rs 821, Rs1011 and  Rs 1949 that offers 5GB, 7GB, 10GB and 20GB respectively. This promotional offer will come in effect from 14-8-2015 and will be available for 90 days.

And on the following six data STVs, customers will get extra 10% data if they will recharge during four days from 14-8-2015 to 17-8-2015