The Jio Welcome Offer, which was originally intended to be free until December 31st, has been extended up to March 31st, 2017 for all users of the service, RIL Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani announced in an event today.
Since Jio made its debut, the service has seen an enormous growth rate, which has even surpassed that of WhatsApp, Facebook and Skype. Ambani says that Jio users are using 25 times more data than regular broadband internet users. Jio has managed to attract 52 million users, and over 50 million of those users were acquired, since Jio was launchded 83 days ago. That is over 6 lakhs of users per day, in the last 3 months.
And thanks to its new eKYC system available in 2 lakh outlets, and the Jio-SIM home delivery system, new users can get a connection almost insantly. From December 4th, Jio users who get a new connection will get all the services including data, voice, apps, etc for free until March 31st. 2017.
Ambani had also lashed out at other telecom providers, for failing to resolve the call drops that has plagued Reliance Jio users since launch day. Allegations hint that telecom providers purposely do not connect calls to and from Jio numbers, in what seems to be an unethical way to deal with Jio's aggressive plan, which of course is free for the coming four months. A total of 900 million calls to the Jio network, were blocked by its rivals. But it has reduced from 90% to 20% over the past few months. Jio is also available under the MNP (Mobile Number Portability) scheme, for users who wish to retain their number, and migrate to Jio.
The TRAI had originally asked Jio, to stop offering its services for free from December 3rd, 2016, but the new twist in extending the welcome offer until the end of March 2017, should agitate other its rival telcos. The new offer sees the Jio Welcome Offer renamed to the Jio Happy New Year Offer.