Bharti Airtel announces major hike in mobile tariffs

Bharti Airtel has announced a significant increase in mobile tariffs, ranging from 10 to 21 percent, starting from July 3. This follows a similar move by rival Reliance Jio, marking a notable shift in the Indian telecom sector’s pricing.

Key Changes in Tariffs

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Bharti Airtel aims to keep increases modest on entry-level plans to ease the financial burden on budget-conscious users. The company, led by Sunil Mittal, highlighted the need for the average revenue per user (Arpu) to surpass Rs 300 to maintain a sustainable business model and support investments in network technology and spectrum.

Specific Price Adjustments

– Unlimited Voice Plans:
– Rs 179 to Rs 199
– Rs 455 to Rs 509
– Rs 1,799 to Rs 1,999
– These changes reflect an increase of approximately 11 percent.

– Daily Data Plans:
– Rs 479 to Rs 579
– This represents a 20.8 percent hike.

This is the first major tariff increase in the telecom industry in about 30 months. Reliance Jio recently set the trend with a 12-25 percent hike in its mobile plans to boost its Arpu, which had stalled at Rs 181.7 in recent quarters.

The telecom industry is now adapting to these new pricing dynamics, with both major players aiming to strengthen their financial health and support future investments.