BSNL takes on Reliance Jio and Airtel, new plan to offer 2GB data per day

After Airtel, Jio and other major telecom operators arereleasing attractive 4G data packs one after the other, state-run BharatSanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)on Tuesday launched a plan that will give 2GB dataper day at just Rs 339 a month.

"To compete with Jio and other private players, we haveintroduced the cheapest plan with a rental value of Rs 339 per month. Underthis plan, the consumer will get 2GB per day," said Sanjiv Tyagi, GeneralManager, BSNL.

The new plan has not been implemented yet but will beavailable from the beginning of next month.

The user will get a total of 30GB data in a month of which2GB can be used in a day. Apart from that, the user will get an additional 25minutes of free calling per day. Once the user exceeds the 25 minute period alevy of 25 paisa will be charged per minute.

With growing competition in the telecom sector, state-runoperators like BSNL and MTNL are struggling to retain consumers. In a bid torespond to the tariff-war, BSNL and MTNL are even planning on a merger.

In terms of the BSNL-MTNL merger, BSNL CMD AnupamShrivastava has said the combination will be "advantageous" for boththe state-owned telecom firms but issues pertaining to debt and salarystructure will need to be sorted out first.

A Parliamentary panel report has pointed out that theTelecom Department is planning to place the merger proposal before the Cabinetby June.