Idea cuts 3G tariffs by up to 70 percent, announces new plans

As expected, 3G tariff war has begun. Days after Bharti Airtel stunned rivals by slashing rates of its 3G mobile data services, Idea Cellular has also slashed 3G tariffs by up to 70 percent.

As per the tariff revision, Idea prepaid and post-paid customers will now be charged 3 paisa for 10KB of 3G data, 70 percent lesser than the previous 10paisa/10KB rate. Idea is offering a new sachet pack of Rs. 10, which features 30 minutes of high speed web browsing. The Hero-25 pack has been priced at Rs. 25 for 100 MB 3G data, with validity of just three days.

Moreover, prepaid and postpaid users will have to shell out Rs. 100 for 300 MB of 3G data (validity of 30 days). For 1GB of data, Idea Cellular users will have to pay Rs. 250. Similarly, for 1.5GB and 2GB, users will have to pay Rs. 350 and Rs. 450 respectively (all with validity of 30 days).

Idea is also offering an unlimited monthly plan at Rs. 950 for 6GB of data. The operator has announced three long validity plans – Rs. 599 for 2GB, Rs. 850 for 3GB – both with validity of 60 days. Idea's another long validity plan has 4GB of data at Rs. 1,250 with validity of 90 days.

According to reports, Vodafone is also going to slash its 3G tariffs. Vodafone is likely to launch new plans of Rs. 25/Rs.26 – 25 MB- 1 Day, Rs. 44/ Rs. 42 – 150MB Data – 7 Days, Rs. 102 – 300MB Data – 30 Days, Rs. 200/ Rs. 202- 500MB-30 Days, Rs. 251/Rs. 253 – 1 GB Data – 30 Days, Rs. 451/Rs. 452 – 2 GB Data – 30 Days and Rs. 1052/Rs.1501 – 10 GB Data – 30 Days. These plans however have not been confirmed by Vodafone India.