Airtel Hikes Postpaid Tariffs by Rs 50, Adds Free International Roaming
Bharti Airtel increases postpaid plan prices by up to 11% but introduces a new benefit: one free international roaming trip per SIM every year.
Bharti Airtel has announced a significant update to its postpaid offerings, implementing a price hike across its existing plan slabs while introducing a premium new benefit for its subscribers. Starting October 8, the telecom giant has increased monthly rentals by Rs 50 across various categories, a move that translates to a price rise of approximately 3% to 11% depending on the specific plan.
New Pricing Structure for Postpaid Plans
The tariff revision affects both individual and family plans. The impact is most noticeable on lower-priced plans, where the percentage increase is higher. The revised monthly rentals are as follows:
- Individual Plans: Starting at Rs 499 per month (previously Rs 449).
- Two-SIM Family Plan: Increased to Rs 749 (previously Rs 699).
- Three-SIM Family Plan: Increased to Rs 1,049 (previously Rs 999).
- Four-SIM Family Plans: Prices rise to Rs 1,249 and Rs 1,449, depending on the specific plan.
- Five-SIM Family Plan: Increased to Rs 1,799 (previously Rs 1,749).
A New Perk: Free Annual International Roaming
To offset the cost increase, Airtel has introduced a high-value feature: one complimentary international roaming trip per SIM every year. This benefit is available across the new postpaid plans and applies to every member included in a family plan.
The roaming pack includes the following features for a five-day duration:
- 5GB of data
- 60 minutes of voice calls
- 25 outgoing SMS
- Free incoming SMS
Notably, customers have the flexibility to activate this roaming pack at their convenience rather than having it triggered automatically.
Retained Benefits and Digital Subscriptions
Despite the price adjustment, Airtel is maintaining its core service advantages. Existing benefits such as unlimited data and calling, Fast Lane technology, and network-level security against spam and fraudulent links remain intact. Furthermore, depending on the chosen plan, customers will continue to receive premium digital subscriptions, including:
- Amazon Prime
- JioHotstar
- Xstream Play Premium
- Google One
- Apple Music
- Apple iCloud+
- Netflix
Company Vision and Market Impact
Amit Tripathi, Director – Market Operations at Bharti Airtel, stated that the focus for the postpaid segment remains on delivering a "best-in-class experience," aiming to provide customers with more compelling reasons to choose Airtel Postpaid.
The new plans are available to both new and existing customers. Users can upgrade their current services via the Airtel App or at physical Airtel stores. Following the announcement, Airtel's stock saw a slight movement, trading at approximately Rs 1,830.00 on the National Stock Exchange.