Your bills in India. As cheap as a as a haircut!
Voice and Data|December,2023
The voice and data rates in India are the most affordable in the world. Have telcos in India cracked some magical formula and can others catch up?
PRATIMA HARIGUNANI
Your bills in India. As cheap as a as a haircut!

You must have picked your jaw from the floor in some store in a foreign country at some point in life, after hearing about the shockingly expensive data and calling rates there for the first time. You must have wondered why India is so low on its rates in comparison and whined a little less about call drops when back on your soil.

Well, it's kind of a jolt to many jaws. India keeps hovering around the fifth or third position on the ranks of the cheapest rates for 1 GB of data; the average cost is, often, somewhere between Rs 12-13 for 1 GB of data. The World Mobile Data Pricing Report 2022 put India amongst the top five countries with the cheapest mobile data plans. India (USD 0.17) is tucked comfortably between USD 0.04 for Israel and USD 41.06 for Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean when we look at an average cost of 1GB of data.

Turns out that Sub-Saharan Africa is the fourth-most expensive region in the world for mobile data generally. The average price of 1GB of mobile data in all four North American countries goes past the global average of USD 2.59, making it the most expensive region overall-as picked in a recent Cable.co.uk report. India, again, was in the 'cheaper' league here at 0.16 USD for 1GB.

So, are we really that lucky? How? And how long will this gap between India and other countries persist? Let's do some hair-splitting.

CRACKING THE 'LOW-COST' MATHS

Esta historia es de la edición December,2023 de Voice and Data.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December,2023 de Voice and Data.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE VOICE AND DATAVer todo
Data discomfort: Why India's data connectivity speeds are falling
Voice and Data

Data discomfort: Why India's data connectivity speeds are falling

India is one of the world’s biggest markets for 5G Internet services, but that has come at the cost of connectivity speed—at least for now

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 2024
A full-stack mission to orbit
Voice and Data

A full-stack mission to orbit

With its all-in-one model, Dhruva Space is merging satellite design, launch, and support under one roof to streamline India's space-tech future

time-read
5 minutos  |
November 2024
5G dreams: A tech revolution hits roadblocks
Voice and Data

5G dreams: A tech revolution hits roadblocks

India's swift 5G rollout encounters hurdles as operators struggle to monetise their investment, with sluggish consumer and enterprise adoption stalling growth

time-read
6 minutos  |
November 2024
Empowering India's next-gen business pathways
Voice and Data

Empowering India's next-gen business pathways

Cloud, data centres, and 5G form a powerful trio, shaping India’s digital future with scalable infrastructure, seamless connectivity, and rapid innovation

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 2024
Interconnected technologies, unlocking enterprise growth potential
Voice and Data

Interconnected technologies, unlocking enterprise growth potential

The synergy of AI, IoT, and 5G is transforming business operations, enabling smarter decision-making and paving the way for scalable, data-driven growth

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 2024
Beyond the 5G horizon, a new era of user expectations
Voice and Data

Beyond the 5G horizon, a new era of user expectations

Telecom experts explore a future beyond 5G, revealing how Al, loT, and secure infrastructure will transform industries and meet rising user demands

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 2024
Unfolding India’s digital journey beyond 5G
Voice and Data

Unfolding India’s digital journey beyond 5G

India’s telecom leaders envision a future of next-gen connectivity, aiming for a digitally inclusive landscape driven by innovation and sustainable growth

time-read
7 minutos  |
November 2024
Digital infrastructure: not the Achilles' heel but the jugular
Voice and Data

Digital infrastructure: not the Achilles' heel but the jugular

As cyber threats intensify, digital infrastructure faces rising risks, demanding vigilant, multi-layered defences to ensure resilience for the future.

time-read
6 minutos  |
November 2024
BUILDING SMARTER HIGHWAYS IN TELECOM'S NEW DIGITAL FRONTIER
Voice and Data

BUILDING SMARTER HIGHWAYS IN TELECOM'S NEW DIGITAL FRONTIER

Autonomous networks enable telcos to streamline operations, enhance services, and reduce costs, driving efficiency in a data-driven, hyperconnected world

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 2024
Pre-zero data dreams: Are AI smartphones leading the way?
Voice and Data

Pre-zero data dreams: Are AI smartphones leading the way?

Artificial Intelligence can unlock personalised insights, ushering in a new era of data-driven experiences that anticipate user needs before they are expressed.

time-read
5 minutos  |
November 2024