Telecom giants Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) have introduced new data-only prepaid plans bundled with a complimentary JioHotstar Mobile subscription. This move follows Reliance Jio’s recent launch of a similar prepaid plan, marking an industry-wide trend in offering value-added OTT benefits to subscribers. These data packs are available on the respective telecom operators’ websites and cater to users who already have an active base plan.

What is JioHotstar Mobile?

JioHotstar Mobile is a rebranded OTT service that emerged from the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar last month. The platform offers exclusive content with a maximum resolution of 720p, accessible only on smartphones. It is priced at Rs 149 per month or Rs 499 annually.

Airtel’s JioHotstar Bundled Data Plans

Airtel has introduced two new data-only packs that include a JioHotstar Mobile subscription:

Rs 100 Plan:

Data: 5GB total

Validity: 30 days

JioHotstar Mobile Subscription: 30 days

Rs 195 Plan:

Data: 15GB total

Validity: 90 days

JioHotstar Mobile Subscription: 90 days

Post Limit Charges: Once the allocated data is exhausted, users will be charged 50p per MB.

Vodafone Idea’s JioHotstar Bundled Data Plans

Vi has rolled out a new data pack, marking its third JioHotstar Mobile bundled offer:

Rs 101 Plan:

Data: 5GB total

Validity: 30 days

JioHotstar Mobile Subscription: 90 days (similar to Jio’s offering)

Vi also offers two additional JioHotstar bundled data packs:

Rs 151 Plan:

Data: 4GB total

Validity: 30 days

JioHotstar Mobile Subscription: 90 days

Rs 169 Plan:

Data: 8GB total

Validity: 30 days

JioHotstar Mobile Subscription: 90 days

Comparison with Reliance Jio

Reliance Jio was the first telecom operator to introduce a JioHotstar Mobile bundled prepaid plan earlier this month. The company continues to offer multiple OTT-inclusive plans, where internet speed is reduced upon reaching the data limit, rather than imposing additional charges.

Industry Trend: OTT-Integrated Prepaid Plans

With telecom providers facing stiff competition, bundling OTT services with prepaid plans has become a popular strategy. The inclusion of JioHotstar Mobile enhances the value proposition for users seeking both affordable data plans and entertainment benefits. Currently, Jio, Airtel, and Vi offer a variety of OTT subscription-based plans, catering to different usage patterns.

Conclusion

Airtel and Vodafone Idea’s latest data-only prepaid plans with JioHotstar Mobile access offer subscribers more affordable streaming and internet options. As telecom companies expand their content partnerships, users can expect more bundled services in the future. For those seeking budget-friendly data packs with entertainment benefits, these new plans are an attractive choice.