Reliance Jio Calls On Other Networks Will Be Free From January 2021

In the first week of December, Reliance Jio had said that they will now be charging the Interconnect Usage Charge (IUC) from its subscribers for calls they make to other mobile networks, such as Airtel, Vodafone-Idea or BSNL. Jio says they will be charging Rs 0.06 per minute as the charge for calls made from a Jio connection to other mobile networks.

The regulator issued a consultation paper reviewing its decision to move to a zero Interconnect Usage Charge (IUC) regime. This, Jio says, has now pushed it to pass on IUC of 6 paise per minute to its subscribers.

“…The consultation paper has created regulatory uncertainty and therefore Jio has been compelled, most reluctantly and unavoidably, to recover this regulatory charge of 6 paise per minute for all off-net mobile voice calls so long as IUC charges exist,” the company said in a statement. 

TRAI decided to discontinue the interconnect usage charges (IUC) until January 2021; however, that deadline is going to end soon. This means that Reliance Jio calls on the other networks will be free from next month. Currently, the company is charging 6 paise per minute to non-Jio users.

As per directions of the Hon’ble Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (“TRAI”), Bill and Keep regime is being implemented in the country from 1st January 2021, thereby ending interconnect usage charges (IUC) for all domestic voice calls. Honoring its commitment to revert off-net domestic voice-call charges to zero, as soon as IUC charges are abolished, Jio will once again make all off-net domestic voice calls free, starting 1st January 2021. On-net domestic voice calls have always been free on the Jio network

In compliance with the TRAI order, there will be no IUC fees from January 2021, so the telecoms operators cannot charge their customers for calls to other networks for a single penny. If a new consultative paper is submitted to the telecoms regulator which delays the IUC regulation, then calls must be charged to Reliance Jio users. However, it was the last week of the month and TRAI didn't announce any new regulation, which would free calls from next month and allow all users of the Reliance Jio network to call on other networks without FUP minutes.

Jio has brought transformational changes in the Indian digital services space to enable the vision of Digital India for 1.3 billion Indians and propel India into global leadership in the digital economy. It has created an eco-system comprising of network, devices, applications and content, service experience, and affordable tariffs for everyone to live the Jio Digital Life. As part of its customer offers, Jio has revolutionized the Indian telecom landscape by making voice calls for Jio customers absolutely free, across India, to any network, and always. Jio makes India the highest quality, most affordable data market in the world so that every Indian can do Datagiri.