Vodafone slashes 2G, 3G prices by 80% across India

In June, the company had reduced the price from 10 paisa per 10kb to 2 paisa per 10kb in Karnataka, UP West and Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh circles and it has now extended the same rates to all its circles from November 1.

"Post the successful pilot launch in three circles in mid-June, this attractive and lowest mobile Internet charge is now being rolled out pan India," the company said in a statement. It added the rate would be applicable from November 1, 2013 for all prepaid and postpaid customers on 2G on a pay-as-you-go basis. The company said same rates will be charged even if the customer is in roaming.

"When a mobile internet customer roams anywhere in India on Vodafone, he/she is charged like home rates for mobile internet," it said.

Vodafone said the new pay-as-you-go rates, which are the same for both 2G and 3G, are the lowest in market. "This 80% reduction in mobile internet charges for customers using 2G is an important step in our strategy to drive mobile internet and we are confident that this move will facilitate in faster adoption and better usage," Vodafone India chief commercial officer Vivek Mathur said.

As part of its strategy to "democratize" data, Vodafone is educating current and potential users about how internet can add significant value to them.

The company is also building content partnerships, simplifying pricing, educating retailers and offering choice to customer on the basis their interests and consumption patterns, it said.