Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has brought back its highly-publicised ₹1 prepaid offer for new customers to experience the telecom operator's mobile services at a nominal cost. The new First Recharge Coupon (FRC) is 24 days of service validity with daily mobile data, unlimited voice calling and SMS benefits. It is for new customers and is available across BSNL’s telecom circles.
With the ₹1 offer, customers receive 1GB of mobile data every day for 24 days; the total data benefit is up to 24GB during the validity period. In addition to the data allowance, the plan also has unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day. This means we can make calls without a voice limit during the validity period and receive a daily SMS quota.
But there is an important eligibility condition attached to the offer. The ₹1 plan is a First Recharge Coupon that is designed for customers who come from a new BSNL mobile connection. Existing BSNL subscribers cannot simply recharge their current numbers with ₹1 FRC and receive the same benefits. It is meant as an introductory plan for the people coming to BSNL with a new SIM.
The current version of the offer is also different from the older ₹1 plan that BSNL had offered previously. As per the report, it had 30 days validity and 2GB of daily data. The revived version has 24 days validity and the daily data is 1GB. Hence, the data benefit is now around 24GB instead of 60GB. The unlimited voice calling and 100 SMS per day are still in place.
BSNL's official announcement called the initiative the Re. 1 Freedom 2.0 Offer. The local government-backed telecom operator said it was part of its customer-focused Independence Day initiatives. The offer would provide new customers with access to BSNL’s mobile network at a very low entry cost.
The return of the ₹1 plan is a signal of a higher demand for cheap secondary SIM cards and communications expenses in telecom services. And for someone who is likely to switch to BSNL, the offer could also be a way to test the network and then make a decision about a longer-lasting prepaid one.
There are some limitations that should be taken into account by customers. The ₹1 FRC is for new users only and is not a regular recurring recharge option. When the 24-day validity expires, subscribers will need to select an appropriate regular BSNL prepaid plan to continue using the connection. The same ₹1 benefit is not available to customers on a preexisting connection if you want to buy once and only once.
The offer also comes as BSNL is expanding its mobile network. BSNL had already ordered more than 26,300 additional 4G sites as part of efforts to connect communities, villages and remote areas, the Department of Telecommunications’ Press Information Bureau said. BSNL’s digital connectivity and customer service have also been highlighted by the government.
For customers who are interested in the offer, the key attraction is the relatively low cost of entry into the service and a package of data, calling and SMS benefits. The plan has 24 days of service for ₹1 with 24GB of total data allocation, unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day available for newly signed customers.
As the ₹1 plan returns, BSNL is once again getting attention in the competitive telecom market. But customers should be aware of the current state and eligibility conditions of BSNL and its validity for new connection purchases through the official channels as promotional offers can come with specific end dates or regionally applicable implementation terms.
