Reliance Jio just announced that it will once again make off-net domestic voice calls free, starting 1st January 2021. This is 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.
Back in October 2019, when TRAI extended the timeline for implementation of the Bill & Keep regime beyond 1st January 2020, Jio started charging its customers 6 paise per minute for voice calls made to non-Jio mobile networks and also released separate packs with additional IUC minutes.
Jio already said that this charge would continue only till the time TRAI abolished IUC charges. It said that today it has delivered on that promise and made off-net voice calls free again.
Regarding this in a statement, Jio said:
Jio stands firm on its commitment to make the common Indian the beneficiary of advanced technologies like VoLTE. Jio is a CUSTOMER-OBSESSED ORGANIZATION and CARES FOR EVERY SINGLE USER. All our users enjoy free voice calls with Jio.
Jio is committed to lay the foundation of a DIGITAL SOCIETY – a society where everything, everyone, everywhere is connected with the best quality service, at the lowest price globally, and has access to the most advanced digital platforms. Through technological innovation, Jio will continue to deliver revolutionary products and services to its users, with a CUSTOMER-FIRST approach.