Vodafone introduces prepaid plan for Rs 159; offers 28GB data, unlimited callingAug 25 (AZINS) In an effort to compete with Reliance Jio, Vodafone has introduced a new prepaid plan for Rs 159. Under this plan, users will get 28GB of 3G or 4G data along with unlimited voice calling and 100 SMSes per day. The plan will be valid for a period of 28 days.

Recently, the government gave final approval to the mega merger of Vodafone and Idea Cellular which will create the country's largest mobile operator with 35 per cent market share and around 430 million subscribers, news agency PTI reported. The move comes just days after Idea Cellular and Vodafone India made a joint payment of Rs 7,268.78 crore 'under protest' to the Department of Telecom (DoT) for merging their mobile businesses.

A senior DoT official privy to the development told PTI, that the final approval has been accorded to the merger and the entities will now approach Registrar of Companies (RoC) for stipulated filings for approval, completing the last leg of formalities.

DoT gave conditional nod to the merger on July 9 and asked the two firms to meet the demand raised for taking the merger on record.

In 2015, Vodafone had merged its four subsidiaries Vodafone East, Vodafone South, Vodafone Cellular and Vodafone Digilink with Vodafone Mobile Services, which is now called Vodafone India. DoT at that time has asked Vodafone to clear OTSC dues worth Rs 6,678 core but the company challenged it in court. Following Supreme Court order, Vodafone had paid only Rs 2,000 crore to get the deal cleared.