Jio Summer Surprise Offer: Why TRAI Is Cancelling Reliance Jio Free Services

A day after the cancellation of Reliance Jio Summer Surprise offer, TRAI Chairman RS Sharma said that sector regulator asked the operator to end the complimentary service as it did not comply with the regulatory framework. The Jio promotional offer was cancelled in less than a week of its launch after the TRAI order, with Reliance Jio agreeing to end it "as soon as operationally feasible." Jio Prime users could get three months of free 4G data, SMSs, and app subscription as part of the JIo Summer Surprise offer.

"We examined it and found that it was not in accordance with regulatory framework, so we advised them to stop it," The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Chairman told PTI. TRAI had previously found nothing wrong with its extended promotional offers of free data and voice that had helped Jio clock 100 million customers.

Though the scheme now stands cancelled due to the order by TRAI, Jio Summer Surprise offer benefits will be rolled till June fo

r Jio Prime users who have already purchased a recharge or Rs. 303 or higher value. Moreover, since a concrete Jio Summer Surprise offer last date is yet to be announced, customers who have not yet signed up for Prime can still get the summer offer benefits by becoming a member and buying recharge of Rs. 303 or more. The last date for Jio Prime subscriptions still stands at April 15.

Those who are unable to avail the free Jio Prime services will soon have to start paying for Reliance Jio services.

72 million of Reliance Jio's 100 million customers had signed up for Jio Prime by March 31, and automatically ported to Jio Summer Surprise - provided they bought a recharge of Rs. 303 or higher value. Those who purchased the low-value recharges had to buy the Rs. 303 recharge on top to get free services for three more months.