Reliance Jio has introduced the Jio Bharat Phone, a cost-effective internet-enabled phone designed to empower feature phone users. With an affordable entry price of Rs 999, the Jio Bharat Phone aims to cater to the vast user base of 250 million feature phone users in India, providing them access to internet-enabled services.
The Jio Bharat platform will not only offer a range of digital services on entry-level phones but also collaborate with other phone brands, starting with Karbonn, to develop Jio Bharat phones. In partnership with Karbonn, the company is launching the first two Jio Bharat phones, marking a significant step in expanding the reach of the Jio Bharat initiative.
A beta trial for the first 1 million Jio Bharat phones will commence on July 7. The trial will be conducted across 6,500 tehsils, focusing on upgrading feature phone users and providing them with the ‘internet-enabled’ devices.
Jio Bharat Pricing Plans
Reliance Jio has introduced the Jio Bharat Phone plan at an affordable price of just Rs 123 per month. This plan offers users unlimited voice calls and a generous 14 GB of data (0.5GB per day). Jio claims that this plan is not only 30% cheaper than other operators’ feature phone offerings but also provides 7 times more data.
In addition to the monthly plan, the company is also offering Annual Plans for Jio Bharat Phone. Users can avail the annual plan for Rs 1,234, which includes a total of 168GB of data (0.5GB per day) along with unlimited calling.
Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio, emphasized the mission behind Jio Bharat Phone, expressing that there are still 250 million mobile phone users in India who are unable to fully access the internet’s basic features, remaining trapped in the 2G era. He highlighted Jio’s commitment to democratizing internet access and ensuring that technology benefits every Indian, making it accessible to all rather than a select few.
Ambani further stated that the Jio Bharat Phone represents another step towards that goal, showcasing innovation and delivering significant value to different segments of users with meaningful and practical use cases. This aligns with Jio’s vision of bringing true value and bridging the digital divide in India.