Jio’s big gift on new year, free calling will be on all networks from January 1

Reliance Jio announced on Thursday that from 1 January 2021, the domestic voice calling facility on all networks will be made free once again. Let us tell you, only a year ago, the telecom company imposed a fee of 6 paise per minute on other mobile networks. However, now the company has revived its old facility once again. Under ‘Bill and Keep’, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will discontinue the Interconnect Use Charge (IUC) on domestic voice calls from January 1 in the country. Interconnect usage charge is the charge taken for outgoing calls between two separate networks. These calls are also known as off-net voice calls.

After this new decision, Jio subscribers can enjoy the facility of free voice calls across the country on any mobile network. It is, of course, a big New Year gift for customers, which they have received from the telecom company.

In September 2019, TRAI extended the deadline to implement ‘Bill and Keep’ from 1 January 2020. As a result of this expansion, calls from Jio to other mobile networks are charged 6 paise per minute. It started in October 2019.

However, Jio had assured at the time that a fee of 6 paise per minute would be charged for outgoing off net calls until TRAI cancels the IUC altogether. At the same time, now as soon as it is going to be canceled, Jio is freeing the calling of other networks to its customers as promised.

Jio had claimed at the time that due to IUC, the company had to pay Rs 13,500 crore to other operators in the last three years. Explain that in IUC, telecom companies have to pay money to other telecom companies to start voice calls on other networks. However, other operators opposed to Jio have supported IUC, as it is one of the main sources of their income.