India data cost down 90% in 18 months; Great news from Vodafone’s Sunil Sood (Satire)

Thanks to Mukesh Ambani & Reliance Jio's low prices, almost 300M Indians connected via 4G. Vodafone chief executive Sunil Sood finds, “Data cost dropped 90% and the cost of voice come down 58% in last 1.5 years.” That's the most dramatic growth in Internet history, I believe. In two years, India has gone from one of the most backward Internet countries to carrying more mobile data than anyone else.

Jio proves companies can make a profit at prices from $2 to $10/month*, double and triple the number of decent Internet connections, and make an enormous difference. Four years ago, I had a few minutes with Carlos Slim and suggested there were two profitable models. Most telcos are high margin, relatively low volume. Free in France, Softbank in Japan, and now Jio in India are proving low cost, high volume can be profitable. I tried to persuade him the latter would be better for his country, as it is proving in India.

India also is connecting 650,000 villages with fiber. 300,000 are already in place. That will connect tens of millions more, possibly hundreds of millions.

Marked satire despite the quote and the facts being accurate. I read Sood's comments as implying cheaper Internet is causing a crisis for the operator and that the government should step in, I think a great Internet for all is a higher goal.Voda is taking over Idea next month. It will have over 400M subscribers, the most in India. If a company that large can't compete with Jio, they need complete new management.