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Idea allows giving 100 MB of free data to non-data users, but that shouldn’t fool you

In an attempt to ramp up their Mobile Internet usage, Idea Cellular is now allowing its prepaid customers and retailers to gift other Idea customers who don't have a data connection, 100 mb of free data. For this, the initiator is also given 100 mb of free data. In addition to this, Idea will periodically send these users tips on how to use the Internet (essentially promote websites). We're not sure of why this is limited only to prepaid users, but that said, it does cover most of Idea's subscription base. This is a great move from Idea Cellular to allow people to get a sample of Internet Access, but lets be clear that this is just a promotional program and there is no business case for it. In Idea Cellular's submission to TRAI on Net Neutrality at the beginning of the year, it had contested Free Basics, which made only the sites that were on Facebook's platform free, by saying that: “Such programs expect Telcos to bear the full cost of running the program, making telecom offer free data services. There is no business case for telcos to offer free data services for any platform or program. The same is apparent by the fact that most major telecom service providers in India have chosen to distance themselves from such programs. Of course, what Idea is giving is open Internet, but the point about business case would also apply here. This is more about customer acquisition, not philanthropy. In particular, this move should allow retailers to push…

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Written By

Founder @ MediaNama. TED Fellow. Asia21 Fellow @ Asia Society. Co-founder SaveTheInternet.in and Internet Freedom Foundation. Advisory board @ CyberBRICS

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