Introduction
Reliance Jio subscribers saw a significant service outage on July 6 and 7, 2025. The blackout hit subscribers in major metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, and most of them reported no network signal, call drops, and mobile data failure. The problem surged quickly on websites such as Downdetector, where thousands of reports were filed within a few hours, and became one of the top trends on social media in no time.
Jio outage not only matters due to the technical shutdown, but also due to Jio’s overbearing presence within the Indian telecom sector, having more than 450 million subscribers. With that large a user base relying on its services for all that ranges from business to mere connectivity, even a brief disruption can result in gargantuan inconvenience, particularly for those whose primary source of internet comes from mobile data.
Realizing the extent of the disruption, Reliance Jio has responded with a user-friendly move—a free plan of unlimited calls and high-speed data for 2 days to affected users who are eligible. The plan will be applied automatically after the existing plan expires and will not need manual intervention or recharge.
This action is meant to regain trust and portray a sense of goodwill, making sure that users do not lose out because of external factors.
What Happened During the Outage?
The surprise Reliance Jio service disruption started on the night of July 6, 2025, at approximately 8:00 PM IST, and lasted well into the following day, July 7. At this time, tens of millions of users throughout India had complete service loss—voice calls, mobile data, and even SMS functionality.
The outage was not regional in nature. Rather, users from almost every corner of India were affected, with big city centers being the worst hit. The top reported problem areas were:
- Delhi
- Mumbai
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Hyderabad
- Kolkata
- Ahmedabad
- Pune
Tier-2 cities and smaller cities also saw similar issues, which clearly pointed to the disruption having a pan-India reach.
Common User Complaints
On social media and consumer platforms, Jio customers complained:
- Zero network bars, even in full coverage areas
- Call drops or total failure to connect
- Mobile internet outage, despite having live data plans
- No customer care access
- Failure in sending or receiving OTPs and critical SMS
For all such users who were depending on mobile data for work-from-home scenarios or small enterprises, this outage affected productivity, communication, as well as digital transactions.
Online Spike in Outage Reports
As frustration mounted, users flocked to Downdetector, a website that monitors live network problems.
Jio’s Response: Free Unlimited Plan
Free high-speed data usage
Validity: 2 days, from the immediate effect after the end of your existing active plan
This way, users do not lose any validity or benefit from their existing recharge.
Successful customers are being informed through:
- SMS directly from Jio
- Push notifications from the MyJio app
Here’s a sample of the SMS that users are receiving:
“Dear Jio subscriber, we recognize you might have experienced service disruption on July 6. As a gesture of goodwill, we are launching a 2-DAY COMPLIMENTARY UNLIMITED PLAN on your number, which will become active after your ongoing plan expires.”
These alerts are being sent in phases, depending on the impacted areas and the level of service impact on specific users.
No Manual Action or Recharge Required
One of the greatest features of this reward is that it is applied automatically. Users do not have to:
- Go to a shop
- Call customer support
- Exchange a code
- Manually recharge
If you are qualified, the complimentary 2-day plan will activate automatically when your existing plan finishes, with no loss of funds or validity for prepaid or postpaid customers.
This proactive response from Jio has been well-received by many users online, especially those who faced real inconvenience during the downtime, with TRAI’s recommended guidelines on user compensation during large-scale outages.
Who Is Eligible?
Not all Jio customers will get the free plan—only those who were actually impacted by the outage on July 6–7, 2025, qualify for this offer. Jio has indicated that the 2-day unlimited plan is selectively launching based on internal network statistics and user behavior within the disruption window.
- Eligibility Criteria
- You should have had service disruption (calls, data, SMS failure) during the period of outage in your region.
- Both prepaid and postpaid Jio customers are eligible.
- Jio is using its internal outage reports and user logs to determine who qualifies, so there is no open registration for the benefit.
Jio is sending messages to eligible users. Look for an SMS similar to this:
Dear Jio user, on account of service disruption on July 6, we’re offering you a 2-DAY COMPLIMENTARY UNLIMITED PLAN, which gets activated on the expiry of your existing plan.”
- MyJio App Notification
Open the MyJio app
Navigate to the ‘My Plans’ or ‘Notifications’
You’ll be notified or shown an upcoming plan mentioning the free 2-day unlimited plan.
- Auto-Activation
If you didn’t get a message, wait for your existing plan to run out. If you qualify, the 2-day free plan will be automatically added.
What If You Haven’t Received Confirmation?
If you think you were impacted but haven’t gotten any SMS or app notice, you can do the following:
- Wait Until Your Current Plan Ends
Occasionally, the plan is added quietly and isn’t apparent until your current plan runs out.
- Check ‘My Plans’ in MyJio
Go to the My Plans page in the app and search for:
- Upcoming plan: 2-day unlimited
- Validity information post-expiry of the existing plan
- Raise a Complaint
- Call 198 from your Jio number.
- Inform them that you experienced an outage and would like to check for eligibility for the free plan.
By limiting this benefit to impacted users, Jio makes the compensation targeted and equitable. This also implies that if your network wasn’t affected, you won’t get the benefit, consistent with industry best practices and TRAI regulations.
How to Check and Activate the Free Plan
If you were hit by the recent Jio outage, the great news is—you don’t have to manually enable or charge something to get the 2-day free unlimited plan. Jio has made the compensation automatically available for everyone who qualifies.
Follow These Easy Steps to Check & Enable:
Step 1: Open the MyJio App
Download or install the MyJio app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, as the case may be.
Sign in with your Jio number (either via OTP or password).
Step 2: Visit ‘My Plans’
Click on the “My Plans” option on the home page.
Your active plan information, validity, and benefits will be displayed.
If you are eligible, you might also find an “Upcoming Plan” listed there—the free 2-day unlimited pack.
Step 3: Let Your Current Plan Run Out
The free plan is not activated right away.
It will auto-activate only after your current recharge runs out, so you do not lose any remaining validity, data, or balance.
Step 4: Auto-Applied Plan Commences
After your current plan runs out, the 2-day unlimited voice and data plan will automatically start.
You do not have to press any key, recharge, or call customer support.
If Didn’t Receive the Free Plan? Here’s What to Do
In case your plan expired and the free plan didn’t get activated, here’s what you need to do:
Option 1: Use the MyJio App
Open the “Help & Support” section
Click on “Mobile Services” > “Recharge or Plan Issues”
Choose “Didn’t receive complimentary plan.”
Add a brief description:
“My location was hit by the July 6–7 Jio outage. I haven’t got the free 2-day plan. Kindly check eligibility.”
Option 2: Call Customer Care
Dial 198 from your Jio number.
Select the option to speak to a representative.
State your problem clearly:
“I experienced the Jio outage but didn’t get the free 2-day plan. Could you please verify?”
Option 3: Email Support
Send a short email to care@jio.com along with your Jio number, area, and details of your complaint.
Jio has promised users that all verified complaints will be processed and compensation will be made where relevant.
TRAI Regulations on Service Disruptions
TRAI requires all telecom providers:
- Prevent continuous service quality and high call/data failures.
- Preventive measures should be in place for real-time detection of outages.
- Notify users and take rectification measures in the event of massive service failures.
- Offer compensation or extensions to the affected users in the case of repeated or prolonged service failures.
TRAI does not specifically mandate the value or structure of compensation; it urges providers to provide proportionate compensation in order to ensure transparency and public faith.
It is not the first time that Jio has done this:
- In 2021, after the same service blackout in some areas of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Jio rewarded users with a 2-day unlimited plan.
- In 2023, when users faced a 4-hour data blackout in certain areas, Jio added one day to existing plans.
- These examples indicate that Jio has a consistent internal policy of post-outage customer pacification, particularly where mass inconvenience is affected.
Consumer Protection & Public Image
By giving compensation willingly, Jio:
- Complies with TRAI’s intent of user-first policies.
- Reinforces its brand trust as a reliable telecom leader.
- Minimizes legal or regulatory backlash by being proactive.
- Avoids social media backlash by offering timely resolutions.
This also reflects a wider industry trend where major telcos are adopting transparent compensation models to retain customers and reduce churn. Indian telecom operators ought to act in times of widespread disruptions across the country.
Conclusion
Jio has not only acknowledged the inconvenience but also aligned itself with TRAI’s consumer-first guidelines.
While there are still some waiting for activation or confirmation, most are set to get the benefit automatically, without having to sacrifice any current recharge or balance. Those who don’t should have easy means available to ascertain eligibility or make a complaint.
In a digitally driven India, when connectivity can no longer be avoided, such an effort towards compensation serves as a reminder that customer service and honesty are more crucial than ever.
FAQs
- Is this offer available to all users?
No. The 2-day free unlimited offer is for users who were personally impacted by the Jio outage on July 6–7, 2025.
- Will my current plan’s balance be deducted?
Not one bit. Your current plan’s data, validity, and balance are secure. The free plan comes into force only after your current plan exhausts.
- Can I manually activate it?
No. Jio automatically applies the plan. You cannot activate, claim, or book it manually.
- What if I’m still experiencing network problems?
If your service has not normalized, you can:
- Restart your phone
- Toggle airplane mode
- Reach out to Jio support (198) or use the MyJio app Help section
- Will the plan appear in MyJio immediately?
Not necessarily. It might only be shown in the “Upcoming Plan” section of My Plans, and it only appears after your ongoing plan runs out.
- Can I instead have a refund?
No, Jio is not giving refunds. The compensation is being provided in the form of a 2-day unlimited plan only, as a gesture of goodwill.
- Does this apply to postpaid users?
Yes. Both postpaid and prepaid Jio users are eligible if they were affected by the outage.
- What to do if I didn’t get any SMS?
Wait for your plan to get over—auto-activation might still occur.
In case nothing occurs, reach out to support through the MyJio app or call 198.
- Will future outages be compensated for, too?
Likely. Jio has historically provided free plans or extensions in case of outages on a large scale. Subsequent compensations could rely upon the scale of the blackout and TRAI regulations.
