Reliance Jio announces free voice calls, cheaper data tariffs

Ambani also announced a 'free welcome offer' for Jio customers from September 5 till December 31. R Jio will offer users data services free for four months, after which it will offer 10 tariff plans starting at Rs 19 a day for occasional users, Rs 149 a month for low data users and Rs 4,999 a month for heavy data users.

Devoting an hour of his speech at the RIL's 42th Annual General Meeting, the billionaire industrialist said Jio is targeting 100 million users in a shortest possible time.

The company also announced "super-affordable" handsets under the LYF brand starting Rs 2999. Burying all speculation, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani said on Thursday the commercial operations of Reliance Jio will start from Dec 31. The company also offered several freebies to attract customers.

The chairman gave this information while addressing the 42nd annual general meeting of the company.

Amongst a whole host of offerings Ambani made:

*Starting from Sep 5 till Dec 31, Jio's bouquet of apps, all services will available for free

*By March 2017, Jio will cover 90 per cent of India's population

*New handsets (LYF) will start at Rs 2,999 

*Roaming charges will also be zero 

*Jio will offer data at Rs 50 per GB (base rate) against Rs 250 per GB charged on average by other operators.