Jharkhand now has six players in GSM sector

Photo: Malay Kumar

Shishir Kumar
Ranchi

Mobile communication – the lifeline of the modern professionally oriented world has now been strengthened in Jharkhand with the entry of two new players – Idea and Vodafone.

The two service providers launched their services in the state last week. “With the entry of the new players, it is not just that the customers would have more options but also the call cost is expected to come down,” claimed Raj a mobile retailer.

Currently, Jharkhand has six GSM service providers including Reliance Smart, BSNL Cellone, Aircel and Airtel beside the two new players. “The entry of the new players would no doubt effect the selling of the products of the old service providers. However, the newer entries would attract the students section more. Companies like BSNL are not going to be affected much by it as their customers are brand loyal,” Bappi Ghosh, a sim dealer said.

Idea, available at most of the voucher retailers, can be availed by paying a sum of Rs. 49 and after a recharge of Rs. 98 it would have a validity of one year. Besides, the recharging would also lower the rates to Rs. 0.10 to Idea mobiles and Rs. 0.50 on other mobiles.

A Vodafone connection can be have had by paying a sum of Rs. 265 that includes a SIM card with lifetime validity, a gift watch and a power recharge voucher.

The customers may however miss the range in cost of sim cards offered by the Reliance GSM and Airtel. “Smart and Airtel gives choice to its subscribers to choose from the various price ranges of sim cards that range from Rs. 50 and go upto Rs. 249.” Ghosh added.

The two new service providers have not yet started having subscribers. “People are now just coming to know about the service provider, their rates and other details. The last company that launched in Ranchi has left a very bad impression on the customers. SO, no one wants to take a risk. Also the companies have not yet launched their special vouchers,” claimed a shopkeeper of Lalpur.

Meanwhile, new entries in the field have no doubt brought a sigh of relief to the mobile users fed up of the network problems in the past few days. “As soon as I enter my house my cell phone is all dead and starts searching for network. I changed my service provider a months back, however, it was of no good use. Now, with two more service provider I have more options. Let’s see if they are different anyways,” Priyanka a student of Xavier’s said.