New Delhi, Nov 30: By introducing free 4G SIM cards and launching affordable 4G-enabled smartphones to connect the next billion, Reliance start up Jio is set to lead India  the 4G revolution, the International Data Corporation (IDC) said on Wednesday.

 
"We are quickly seeing this change in key growth markets like India where new operator Reliance Jio is aggressively trying to shake up the market by handing out free 4G SIM cards and launching own-branded low-cost 4G-enabled smartphones," said Melissa Chau, Associate Research Director, IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers, in a statement. 
 
Relaince Jio commercially launched its services on September 5 and introduced Aadhaar-based paper-less Jio SIM activation across 3,100 cities and towns.Worldwide 4G smartphones are expected to show double-digit uptake at 21.3 per cent Year-on-Year growth for 2016 to reach 1.17 billion units — up from 967 million in 2015.

 With Jio connection users can enjoy unlimited access to HD voice calls (on Jio eligible VOLTE phones), messaging, video calls, high-speed data as well as access to Jio's suite of apps till December 31. Post that while all voice calls will still be free data packs for mobile data recharges will be one of the cheapest in the country. This has already started a fierce fight in the telecom markets where older players will try their best to retain old customers base in face of free service competition being provided by Jio.