Jio Bharat Phone: In an ambitious move to expand its subscriber base, Jio is setting its sights on the substantial segment of Indian mobile users who are still tethered to 2G networks. By targeting this demographic, predominantly feature phone users, Jio aims to transition them to the more advanced 4G network, thereby broadening the accessibility of high-speed internet across the country.
Taking a significant step in this direction, Jio has introduced the Jio Bharat Phone, marking the company’s foray into an affordable range of 4G-enabled devices. There is buzz that Jio is not stopping at one model; it is reportedly collaborating with several handset manufacturers to develop a variety of Jio Bharat phone variants, enhancing the choices available to consumers. At present, there are three models available for users within this lineup.
Sunil Dutt, the device division president of Jio, has divulged some of the company’s future endeavors concerning their 4G feature phones, as per a report from ET. He articulated Jio’s commitment to making the 4G experience, and subsequent technologies, affordable and accessible to the 25 crore users who are currently on the 2G network. The strategic partnerships with well-known brands such as itel, Lava, and Nokia are a testament to this commitment.
Currently, the market can choose from three iterations of the JioBharat Phone: the JioBharat B1, JioBharat K1 Karbon, and JioBharat V2. Priced competitively at Rs 1299 and Rs 999 respectively, these devices are designed to be financially accessible to a wide range of customers. The JioBharat B1 stands at a slightly higher price point, but it justifies the cost with a richer feature set compared to its counterparts.
This initiative by Jio could significantly alter the telecommunications landscape in India, potentially catalyzing a mass migration from 2G to 4G networks, and setting new benchmarks for internet accessibility and affordability in the process.
