BSNL’s New ₹198 Data-Only Plan: A Competitive Edge Against Private Telecoms
For the past six months, the government telecom provider BSNL has been rolling out highly competitive prepaid plans, challenging private carriers such as Jio, Airtel, and Vi. Most recently, BSNL launched another attractive and affordable package, especially appealing to heavy data users.
Plan Highlights:
- Price: ₹198
- Data Benefit: 2 GB of high-speed data per day
- Validity: 40 days
- Speed Limit: After consuming 2 GB/day, speed drops to 40 Kbps
- Voice/SMS: No calling or texting—data-only plan
- Cost Efficiency: Total of 80 GB data, averaging just ₹2.48/GB
BSNL has promoted this plan across its social media channels—X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram—branding it as “Unlimited Data for straight 40 days.”
What Makes This Plan Special?
- Affordable Price, Generous Data
Getting 80 GB for just ₹198 is extremely attractive, especially for users who rely heavily on video streaming, gaming, or working from home. - Extended Validity
This 40-day plan offers long active usage, while BSNL’s ₹299 and ₹599 plans provide 84 days of validity with additional benefits like unlimited calling, SMS, and 3 GB/day data. - Ideal for Data-Only Users
For users with no need for call or SMS services, this plan is perfect—there are no unnecessary charges for unused features. - Part of BSNL’s Growth Strategy
BSNL has been profitable for two consecutive quarters and is aggressively expanding its market share through such data-focused offerings.
Plan Comparison
| Plan | Price | Data/Day | Validity | Calls/SMS | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₹198 | ₹198 | 2 GB | 40 days | ❌ Not included | Data-only |
| ₹299 | ₹299 | 3 GB | 84 days | ✅ Unlimited calls / 100 SMS | Full package with extras |
| ₹599 | ₹599 | 3 GB | 84 days | ✅ Unlimited calls / 100 SMS | Long validity with full offerings |
- The ₹198 plan suits solely data-centric users.
- The ₹299 and ₹599 variants come with full voice and SMS benefits.
Best Suited For:
- Students – For online classes, study content, streaming.
- Work-from-Home Professionals – For video calls and document sharing.
- Mobile Gamers / OTT Fans – For high-speed, uninterrupted data usage.
- Budget-Conscious Users – Who prioritize data over voice/SMS.
How to Recharge
You can recharge via:
- BSNL Self-Care App or the official website
- Major recharge platforms like Paytm, PhonePe, or Google Pay
- BSNL retail outlets
Note: Before recharging, check plan availability in your telecom circle (e.g., UP East/UP West).
Potential Limitations
- No Voice/SMS: If calling is important, this isn’t the right plan.
- Speed Throttling: After 2 GB/day usage, speed drops to 40 Kbps—good for basic browsing but not for streaming.
- Circle-Specific Variations: Prices and validity may differ slightly across states—always verify via official sources.
Final Verdict
With 2 GB daily data and 40-day validity at just ₹198, BSNL’s new data-only plan is a smart move for users focused solely on data. It’s especially appealing for students, gamers, and remote workers looking for high-speed data on a budget.
Though it lacks calling, SMS, or unlimited high-speed data post-threshold, its long-term affordability makes it a compelling choice. If your priority is only data, this ₹198 plan might fit you perfectly.
