Gujarat government selects Jio as new mobile service provider for officials and dignitaries

Reliance has been required to give a new series in accordance with the terms of the new contract, with the first five digits being distinctive and shared by all subscribers.

The Gujarat government has chosen Akash Ambani-led Reliance Jio Infocomm as the new service provider for all government dignitaries and officials' mobile phones, taking the place of Vodafone Idea.

The first term of the contract with Reliance Jio is two years.After six months, the government will evaluate the standard of the mobile phone service and tariff rates, and if either is deemed poor, the contract will be cancelled

This decision of replacing Vodafone from the government comes after 12 years of Vodafone being the service provider. Before the assembly elections in December 2022, a proposal for choosing a new service provider was mooted.

According to a May 6 decision from the general administration department, "Gujarat Informatics Ltd had launched a bid for fixing tariffs of postpaid mobile phone service for government dignitaries and officials, dated November 3, 2022. The offer from M/s. Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., Ahmedabad, was accepted following thorough analysis of the service provider bids, and on April 29, 2023, a contract was signed with the aforementioned business."

Reliance has been required to give a new series in accordance with the terms of the new contract, with the first five digits being distinctive and shared by all subscribers. However, the service offered may keep the current mobile number if the user so requests, in accordance with the free mobile number portability plan, without imposing a switchover cost. The corporation will only allow access to certain numbers, according to the official resolution.

Government officials including the governor and ministers, started receiving mobile phones for official use in 2008. Back then, BSNL was the service provider. The service provider was shifted by the government to Vodafone Essar Gujarat Ltd. in 2010.

Basic services have a monthly rent of Rs 37.50. All calls, including those made when roaming internationally, are free. Depending on the bundle selected, data services (4G and 5G) would cost between Rs 25 and Rs 125.