After Jio, now Airtel has also increased its mobile tariff plans in an attempt to increase the average revenue per user (ARPU). The new prices will be effective from July 3, 2024. Users can recharge using the current plans before July 3, 2024.
The hikes are pretty huge, especially on the high-end plans. For example, the 1799 prepaid plan is now 1999, a hike of INR 200, translating to an 11.12% increase. Even the daily data plans haven’t been spared; the popular 2999 yearly plan is now a steep 3599, translating a 20.01% hike.
Cheapest Daily Data Plan is Now INR 299
Prepaid Plans
| Plan | Old Price (INR) | New Price (INR) | Validity (Days) | Benefits | Hike & Percentage Increase |
| Unlimited Voice Plans | 179 | 199 | 28 | 2GB data, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 20 (11.17%) |
| 455 | 509 | 84 | 6GB data, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 54 (11.87%) | |
| 1799 | 1999 | 365 | 24GB data, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 200 (11.12%) | |
| Daily Data Plans | 265 | 299 | 28 | 1GB/day, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 34 (12.83%) |
| 299 | 349 | 28 | 1.5GB/day, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 50 (16.72%) | |
| 359 | 409 | 28 | 2.5GB/day, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 50 (13.93%) | |
| 399 | 449 | 28 | 3GB/day, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 50 (12.53%) | |
| 479 | 579 | 56 | 1.5GB/day, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 100 (20.88%) | |
| 549 | 649 | 56 | 2GB/day, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 100 (18.21%) | |
| 719 | 859 | 84 | 1.5GB/day, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 140 (19.47%) | |
| 839 | 979 | 84 | 2GB/day, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 140 (16.67%) | |
| 2999 | 3599 | 365 | 2GB/day, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day | INR 600 (20.01%) | |
| Data Add-Ons | 19 | 22 | 1 | 1 GB | INR 3 (15.79%) |
| 29 | 33 | 1 | 2 GB | INR 4 (13.79%) | |
| 65 | 77 | Plan Validity | 4 GB | INR 12 (18.46%) |
Postpaid Plans
| Old Price (INR) | New Price (INR) | Benefits | Hike & Percentage Increase |
| 399 | 449 | 1 Connection; 40GB Data, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day, Xstream Premium Subscription | INR 50 (12.53%) |
| 499 | 549 | 1 Connection; 75GB Data, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day, Xstream Premium Subscription, Disney+Hotstar Subscription 12 months, Amazon Prime Subscription 6 months | INR 50 (10.02%) |
| 599 | 699 | Family of 2; 105GB Data, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day, Xstream Premium Subscription, Disney+Hotstar Subscription 12 months, Amazon Prime Subscription 6 months, Wynk Premium | INR 100 (16.69%) |
| 999 | 1199 | Family of 4; 190GB Data, UL Calling, 100 SMS/day, Xstream Premium Subscription, Disney+Hotstar Subscription 12 months, Amazon Prime Subscription 6 months, Wynk Premium | INR 200 (20.02%) |
Will Airtel continue unlimited 5G after the tariff hike?
While Jio has made it clear that unlimited 5G will still be available on 2GB/day data plans, Airtel is mum about the situation. This perhaps means that Airtel will be discontinuing unlimited 5G on all plans.
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Why the increase?
Airtel’s playing the long game here, aiming to maintain a mobile ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) above INR 300. They say it’s about staying financially healthy and being able to pour more money into better tech and network upgrades.
However, will we actually get network upgrades? Although India has one of the most affordable mobile internet plans in the world, the speeds are not the fastest. With 5G, telecom operators claimed to deliver speeds of up to 1 Gbps. Although the initial speeds were as promised, it quickly escalated as more users switched to 5G.
Hopefully, the telecom operators will work on improving the 4G and 5G speeds, too. As for the price hike, these will most affect budget-conscious consumers, who mostly opt for the low-tier plans (under 300). Even on those plans, Airtel has increased the plans by about 13%.
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Both Jio and Airtel have been planning for a tariff hike for a long time now and it was scheduled to take effect after the Lok Sabha elections. Now, Vi users are waiting for the company to release its revised tariff plans.
What are your thoughts on all of this? Has your go-to plan been affected massively? Do you have any plans to switch to a different plan or carrier? Let us know in the comments section below.
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