In a significant update for mobile users in India, Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) have announced substantial price hikes for their prepaid and postpaid plans. The new tariffs for Jio and Airtel will come into effect from July 3, while Vi’s changes will come into effect from July 4. With all plans affected by these hikes, consumers are keen to find ways to minimise the impact on their wallets. Here’s what you need to know to save money before the new rates come into effect.

If you are a Reliance Jio or Airtel customer, you have a short window to take advantage of the current low prices. These telecom providers have confirmed to India Today Tech that users can queue up recharges for up to 730 days – which is equivalent to two years of prepaid service. By recharging now, you can lock in the old rates for future usage, potentially saving hundreds of rupees, especially on long-term plans.

For Vodafone Idea users, the situation is a little more complicated. According to the report, unlike Jio and Airtel, Vi does not support the option to queue up multiple recharges with delayed activation of benefits. This means if you recharge multiple times before the price hike, the benefits including data and call services will kick in immediately and cannot be stacked for future use. India Today has reached out to Vi to get clarity on this and we will update the article once we have confirmation on it.

To maximize savings, Jio and Airtel users can closely examine their data usage patterns. If your current plan offers more data than you normally use, consider switching to a lower data plan before the recharge deadline. For example, if the price of an annual data pack is going to increase by Rs 600 after the hike, opting for a lower data plan that matches your usage could be a wise financial move. You can view your data usage pattern in the companies’ official apps – “MyJio” and “Airtel Thanks”.

Take a look at the new prices of Airtel, Jio and Vi plans

With the new tariffs coming out, it’s important to act quickly to get the best possible rates. Check your monthly data usage, evaluate your plan options and recharge before the deadline. This proactive approach can lead to significant savings, helping you manage your mobile expenses more effectively in the face of these upcoming price hikes.