BSNL-Patanjali offer: Is Rs 144, 2GB Swadeshi SIM card, freebies better than Reliance Jio's? Find out

BSNL-Patanjali offer: FMCG company Patanjali, led by Baba Ramdev and ACharya Balkrishna, has launched Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM cards in alliance with state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Through this SIM card, users will be able to avail unlimited calls, 2GB data and 100 SMS through a recharge of just Rs 144. The offer has a validity period of 28 days. 

As per a ANI report, the BSNL-Patanjali card also comes with the medical and life insurance covers of Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively. Also the motive of Patanjali and BSNL is the welfare of the country. However, it needs to be noted that, this Patanjali-BSNL offer is available only to employees and office bearers of Patanjali for now and may rolled out later to the public. 

But after a full-fledged launch, reportedly it is expected that people will even receive 10% rebate on Patanjali products with this card. 
Interestingly, Patanjali - BSNL’s Rs 144 recharge pack is still not better than what RJio is offering. 

RJio is offering 2GB data with a recharge pack of Rs 98 for 28 days. The pack also offers unlimited voice calls, 300 SMS and complimentary subscription on Jio Apps. 

Now that Patanjali enters in this industry, days may turn even more haunting for other telcos.

Talking on RJio,  Himanshu Shah analysts at HDFC Securities said, “ It is noteworthy that irrespective of whether Jio succeeds in grabbing competition’s postpaid subscribers or not, it is trying to attack the profit pool of B/V/I making them further weak.”

According to Shah, telecom industry has already consolidated into three private players market. Significant blow has already been absorbed by B /V/I (EBITDA down ~55% for Bharti and 67% for Idea from peak). B/V/I are expanding their broadband footprint and have matched Jio on tariffs with modest premium.

Jio has already grabbed 50% plus of the addressable market in the Smartphone segment (~200mn customers (out of 350-400mn handsets), as per Shah. 

Reliance Jio once again ruled in terms of net addition of wireless subscribers by adding 8.74 million people under its ambit during February 2018. At the second spot was Idea with net addition of 4.42 million subscribers, followed by Bharti with 4.17 million subscribers and Vodafone with 3.24 million subscribers. 

Apart from these top four telecom-giant, it was only state-owned BSNL who managed to see positive performance by adding over 80 lakh net subscriber. 

Patanjali last year announced to cross turnover Rs 20,000 crore mark, despite hiccups from GST, the company is confident to resume its growth path in the ongoing fiscal. In FY17, Patanjali recorded a turnover of Rs 10,561 crore, registering a 111% growth.