To be noted, incoming calls, Jio to Jio calls, landline calls and app-based calls such as WhatsApp, will remain free. Jio customers who want to make a call to other networks like Vodafone Idea or Airtel will have to buy additional top-up vouchers starting from Rs 10.
Jio’s Voice Call Charges
From today, voice calls by Jio users made to another mobile operator like Airtel, Vodafone-Idea, etc will be charged at 6 paise per minute. Also, Jio to Jio, incoming, and calls made to a landline number and using WhatsApp, Skype, etc, will be free. Post-paid customers will also be billed at 6 paise per minute for all outgoing calls made to another network. All customers will be compensated with free data entitlement.
IUC Top-up Vouchers
Jio customers will have to purchase IUC top-up vouchers to make calls to other networks. Also, Jio will give 1 GB free data for every Rs. 10 spent on vouchers. The talk-time amount will get deducted at 6 paise per minute when you make a call to other operators.
When it will end?
Jio has assured that the IUC charges will not be applicable for a very long time. These are only applicable until the TRAI announces a zero IUC policy. At present, IUC is 6 paise per minute. According to the last ruling by TRAI, IUC will be zero only from January 1, 2020. This means Jio users will have to pay IUC only till the end of this year.
What is IUC?
IUC (Interconnect Usage Charge) is a charge which is paid to the telecom operator on whose network a call is made. This has been a bone of contention among network operators and TRAI. Two years ago, TRAI brought it down from 14 paise per minute to 6 paise per minute and also decided to scrap it from January 2020.
