News
Network reportedly to go live on India’s independence day.
The long-awaited launch of Reliance Jio’s 4G service is now expected to take place in August, it emerged on Thursday.
Sources cited by the Economic Times said the first price plan is likely to be called ‘Freedom’ and could go on sale from 15 August, India’s independence day.
According to the report, the tariff will bundle free voice services with data, and could undercut rival prices by as much as 25%.
Local media reports about the launch of Reliance Jio should be taken with a pinch of salt though.
Hopes were raised in June when Jio’s Website went live, giving prospective customers an opportunity to learn about the various Jio apps on offer and to register their interest.
Reports at the time claimed that the company had begun selling 4G smartphones equipped with Jio SIM cards in India’s major cities; however, it was allegedly a soft launch, and not a fully-fledged commercial launch.
Reliance Jio maintains that it plans to kick off its 4G services in fiscal 2016-2017, which began in April. Some have suggested the launch could take place as late as December.
One of the ET’s sources on Thursday insisted it is different this time.
"The teams had been forewarned about a launch thrice earlier. But this time, the management means business," the source said.
