Airtel Announces Price Hike for Prepaid and Postpaid Plans Starting July 3

Bharti Airtel has joined the trend of increasing mobile tariffs in India. The company announced that their new plans, effective July 3rd, 2024, will reflect a modest price increase across prepaid and postpaid options. This move aims to maintain a healthy Average Revenue per User (ARPU) above Rs 300, allowing Airtel to invest in network upgrades and spectrum acquisition.

Airtel emphasizes that the price hike is designed to minimize the impact on budget-conscious consumers. Entry-level plans will see minimal increases of less than 70 paise per day. Notably, this announcement comes after a similar price hike from Reliance Jio, effective on the same date.

Understanding the New Airtel Plans (Prepaid & Postpaid)

Here's a breakdown of some key changes in both prepaid and postpaid plans:

Airtel Prepaid Plans

Airtel Postpaid Plans (New Plans Introduced):

Airtel has introduced new postpaid plans offering benefits like data rollover, subscriptions to streaming services, and unlimited calling. Here's a glimpse at some of the new offerings:
  * **Rs 449 Plan:** This plan offers 40GB of data with rollover, unlimited calling, 100 SMS per day, and an Xstream Premium subscription.

•   * **Rs 549 Plan:** This plan includes 75GB of data with rollover, unlimited calling, 100 SMS per day, Xstream Premium, Disney+ Hotstar for 12 months, and Amazon Prime for 6 months.

•   * **Rs 699 Plan:** For families, this plan includes 105GB of data with rollover, unlimited calling, 100 SMS per day, Xstream Premium, Disney+ Hotstar for 12 months, Amazon Prime for 6 months, and Wynk Premium for 2 connections.

•   * **Rs 999 Plan:** For larger families, this plan offers 190GB of data with rollover, unlimited calling, 100 SMS per day, Xstream Premium, Disney+ Hotstar for 12 months, and Amazon Prime for 4 connections.

Complete details regarding revised plan prices and inclusions for all postpaid plans will be available on Airtel's website starting July 3rd, 2024.

Airtel Data Add-On Plans

Airtel has also adjusted the prices for data add-on plans:

• Rs 19 Plan Increased to Rs 22: This plan offers 1GB of additional data for a day.

• Rs 29 Plan Increased to Rs 33: This plan provides 2GB of additional data with a one-day validity.

• Rs 65 Plan Increased to Rs 77: This plan includes 4GB of additional data valid for the duration of your base plan.

These price adjustments apply across all circles serviced by Airtel.

Impact and Considerations

The upcoming price hike has generated mixed reactions. While some users understand the need for Airtel to invest in network infrastructure, others might be concerned about the rising cost of mobile services. Here are some key points to consider:

• Impact on Budget Users: The minimal increase for entry-level plans aims to cushion the blow for budget-conscious consumers. However, users who rely heavily on mobile data might need to re-evaluate their plans or consider data-saving practices.

• Comparison with Jio: Since Jio has also announced a price hike, it will be interesting to see how their revised plans compare to Airtel's offerings in terms of data allocation, bundled benefits, and overall value.

• Network Improvement: Airtel's focus on investing in network upgrades promises better connectivity and potentially faster data speeds in the future. However

These price adjustments apply across all circles serviced by Airtel.