Accepting the advisory issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Reliance Jio on Thursday announced that it would withdraw its three months complimentary benefits under the Jio Summer Surprise.
Under Jio Summer Surprise, all Jio Prime members making their first recharge payment of Rs 303 (or higher) plans got three months complimentary services in addition to the benefits of their purchased plan.
“Jio is in the process of fully complying with the regulator’s advice, and will be withdrawing the 3 months complimentary benefits of JIO SUMMER SURPRISE as soon as operationally feasible, over the next few days. However, all customers who have subscribed to JIO SUMMER SURPRISE offer prior to its discontinuation will remain eligible for the offer,” a release from the company said.
On 31 March, the Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio had announced that it notched an unprecedented 72 million paid subscribers and extended by 15 days its rock-bottom priced data offer under Prime membership.
The company, whose free extended promotional offer had come to an end on the last day of March, had announced a complimentary offer for three months for those who paid Rs 303 prior to 15 April. The company had said it extended the deadline for purchasing its Rs 303 (and other) plans till 15 April, “considering the unprecedented demand”.
“This extension will provide the necessary breathing room for users to avoid service disruption during the transition from free to paid services. Customers who could not enrol for JIO PRIME by 31st March for whatever reason can still do so by paying Rs 99 along with their first purchase of Jio’s Rs 303 and other plans till 15th April,” a company statement on 31 March had said.
It had also announced the Jio Summer Surprise for its PRIME members. “Every JIO PRIME member – when they make their first paid recharge prior to 15th April using Jio’s Rs 303 plan (or any higher value plan) – will get services for the initial three months on a complimentary basis. Your paid tariff plan will be applied only in July, after the expiry of the complimentary service,” Ambani had said in a letter to customers.
Jio had launched the inaugural free voice and data plan in September last year, and in December, extended the freebies till 31 March, 2017.