Vodafone India has called for the “immediate intervention” of market regulator TRAI, claiming that Reliance Jio is still “luring” customers to its ‘Summer Surprise’ offer, local newspaper The Hindu reports. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India recently advised Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) to withdraw its 3-month complimentary offer. Jio launched its 'Jio Summer Surprise' promotion on 31 March. Under this campaign, all Jio Prime members who make their first recharge of INR 303 will receive three months of free services in addition to the benefits of their purchased plan.
"In our view, such promotion… on an offer held as non-compliant is a blatant violation and disregard of TRAI’s advisory," Vodafone said in a letter to the regulator. "Such promotions to customers makes the regulatory advisory meaningless," Vodafone added.
On 6 April, Jio announced it accepted the regulator's decision, and would end the 3-month complimentary benefits of Jio Summer Surprise "as soon as operationally feasible, over the next few days".
"Reliance Jio is continuing with this offer, held as not meeting regulatory norms, in the garb of configuration changes. For the past three days it has been promoting and luring customers to quickly recharge to avail the benefits of a non-compliant offer and also asking its retailers to communicate the same," Vodafone said.
