Jio now charges 6 paise per minute for calls to other networks, as IUC

If you are a Jio user and about to recharge your accounts, then Jio would recover 6 paise per minute from your accounts, for calls made to networks of rival operator such as Airtel and Vodafone-Idea. However, you would also be compensated via free data. This comes into effect from today. Do check if you are charged for calls made to rival networks. This new regulation could stay in place till 1 January 2020. This has everything to do with Interconnect Usage Charge (IUC) which is a nominal amount paid by one operator to another for outgoing calls. These are fixed by TRAI. Remember that there would be no tariff raise to customers as far as their current plans are concerned.

The IUC packs from Jio

However, Jio would offer free voice calls in case these calls are made to Jio networks. Calls would also be free in case these are made to landline numbers (from Jio networks). Then, calls initiated through applications (apps) like WhatsApp, FaceTime, and other similar domains would also not involve additional costs. For Jio subscribers, there are also custom IUC Top-Up voucher offering free IUC minutes to non-Jo networks along with free data starting from 1 GB.  

The custom IUC Top-Up vouchers are applicable to prepaid users. These start from Rs 10 – for 124 minutes (to other networks) offering 1 GB 4G data. Then, there is the Rs 20 voucher offering 249 minutes along with 2GB data. Finally, there are 50 and 100 IUC recharge packs offering 656, 1362 IUC minutes whilst offering 5GB and 10GB data. Also, Jio states that the 6 paise per minute outgoing calls charge for other networks would continue only till TRAI completely abolishes IUC.  

“We are hopeful that the IUC charge will be done away with as per the current regulation and that this temporary charge will come to an end by 31 December 2019 and consumers will not have to pay this charge thereafter. In the meanwhile, consumers can continue to enjoy the additional data entitlement in lieu of the IUC top-up vouchers so that there is no effective tariff increase till 31 December 2019,” stated Jio in an official statement. 

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