New Delhi: Reliance Jio, India’s newest telecom operator, is closing in on 50 million paid users, days before its free voice, free-data offer ends.

Out of 100 million-plus free subscribers, nearly 50 million have signed up for its ‘Prime’ membership by paying a one-time charge of Rs99 and buying data packs. A company official said that Reliance Jio has already achieved more than 50% of the target set for Reliance Jio Prime membership.

Reliance Jio’s promotional Happy New Year plan that offered free voice and data ends on 31 March.

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The company has offered customers Prime membership on payment of a one-time fee of Rs99. Data packs for such members is available for as low as Rs149 per month. Voice calls on Reliance Jio will remain free.

The official said daily addition are going up exponentially and actual numbers will be shared after the expiry of the free offer on 31 March.

According to industry estimates, out of the 100-105 million subscribers that Reliance Jio has at present, around 30% are secondary connections taken by individuals to get extra free data. Out of the remaining 70 million unique subscribers, Reliance Jio may be targeting to convert at least two-thirds to the Prime loyalty programme.

At 50 million, Reliance Jio will become the largest provider of paid broadband services in the country. Market leader Bharti Airtel had a combined user base of 37.7 million for its 3G and 4G services at the end of December. This was down from 41.3 million three months earlier.

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