Vodafone India slashes 2G data rates by 80%

NEW DELHI (TNN): Vodafone India has cut 2G data rates by 80%, from 10p/10kb to 2p/10kb. These rates are currently applicable in Karnataka, UP West and Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh circles and will be rolled out nationally in a phased manner, Vodafone India said. With this price cut, Vodafone's 2G data plan is now the cheapest in the country. This new rate would be applicable for all prepaid and postpaid customers using the operator's 2G network on a Pay-as-you-Go basis, the company stated. Vivek Mathur, chief commercial officer, Vodafone India, said, "We want to accelerate mobile internet adoption through penetration, consumption and value addition. This 80% reduction in data charges for customers using 2G network is an important step in this direction and we are confident that this move will facilitate in faster adoption and better usage." The company also said it has been hand-holding customers to use mobile internet and educating current and potential users about how internet can add significant value to them. Vodafone India is also building content partnerships, simplifying pricing, educating retailers and offering choice to customers based on their interests and consumption patterns, it said in a release. In a statement issued later on Tuesday, mobile operator Aircel stressed that it too had launched PI 24 (a Pocket Internet 24) offering its customers internet access for Rs. 24 for 100 MB data with a validity of 30 days. This translates to 0.2p/10KB (which is much less than 1 paisa). The product was launched by Aircel two months ago and is available across all Aircel circles. The company spokesperson claimed 100 MB per month data offer is enough for an average user to be socially connected and check emails. After the customer exhausts the 100 MB limit, the rate will be 1p/10kb within the validity period.