The revised prices will go into effect on November 26th, according to the announcement. The previous Rs. 79 plan is now Rs. 99. It now comes with a talk time of Rs 99 (as compared to Rs64 previously) and 200MB of data, as well as a 28-day validity period.
The 149-rupee plan is now 179-rupees. It continues to offer 2GB of data and unlimited calls to subscribers. The daily SMS quota has been increased to 100. It also has a 28-day validity period. The Rs 219 plan has been replaced with the Rs 265 plan, which includes 1GB of data per day, unlimited calls, and 100 SMS per day with a 28-day validity period.
For 28 days, the Rs 299 (formerly Rs 249) plan provides 1.5GB of data per day, unlimited calls, and 100 SMS/day. The Rs 298 plan has been replaced with the Rs 359 plan, which includes 2GB of internet per day, 100 SMS per day, and unlimited calls for 28 days. The Rs 399 package, which previously cost Rs 479, now costs Rs 479 and includes 1.5GB of data per day, unlimited calls, and 100 SMS per day for 56 days. The Rs 449 prepaid package is now Rs 549, and it includes 2GB of data per day as well as the same calling and SMS features as the other plans.
The change, according to Airtel, is to keep the mobile ARPU at Rs 200 for a while and eventually raise it to Rs 300. This amount is expected to provide a "fair return on capital that allows for a financially sound business model and will permit the significant investments in networks and spectrum that are necessary." It will also make it easier for Airtel to put out 5G in India.
While Airtel is the first to make such a significant adjustment, it is unclear whether other cellular companies, such as Jio and Vi (Vodafone Idea), would follow suit. There's a chance that instead of raising costs, other telcos will offer more incentives in order to attract more customers.
