In order to be ready to offer a new service once people restart travelling after the pandemic, a total of 22 international airlines have partnered with Reliance Jio to power in-flight internet connectivity inside their aircraft once they enter the Indian skies.
Jio is headed by one of the world’s richest men, Mukesh Ambani, under his Reliance brand, which is one of India’s most-valued companies.
Jio has also announced three onboard data plans with one-day validity at cheap rates, between about $6 and $14.
The plans will offer travellers 250 MB to 1 GB data packs along with 100 calling minutes and 100 messages to facilitate communication from inside the flight.
“(These plans are) applicable for 22 partner airlines… data and SMS services are available in all our partner airlines. However, voice services are available only in select airlines. Incoming calls are not allowed in these packs. Incoming SMS is free. Usage entitlements (are) applicable only for In-flight communications. Data speed may vary from airline to airline,” Jio posted on its website, revealing further details on the subject.
The foreign airlines that have partnered with Jio include Emirates, Etihad, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Cathy Pacific, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, among others.
As of now, Vistara is the only Indian airline that offers In-Flight WiFi in partnership with the network arm Nelco, owned by major Indian conglomerate Tata Group.
India has been ramping up efforts to facilitate on-the-go WiFi services for other modes of travelling, like inter-city trains and subways.
In January 2016, Indian Railways initiated free WiFi services for the first time in Mumbai Central station. The service has now expanded: 5,500 stations across India.
In January 2020, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) launched free high-speed WiFi facilities on one of its metro sections – the Airport Express, linking New Delhi’s commercial centre with Indira Gandhi International Airport.
