Team News Riveting
Mumbai, November 22
Bharti Airtel on Monday announced that it would raise prepaid tariff rates by up to 25 per cent with effect from November 26.
Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”) has always maintained that the mobile Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) needs to be at Rs 200 and ultimately at Rs 300, so as to provide a reasonable return on capital that allows for a financially healthy business model, the company said in a regulatory filing. “We also believe that this level of ARPU will enable the substantial investments required in networks and spectrum,” it said, adding that even more important, this will give Airtel the elbow room to roll out 5G in India.
“Therefore, as a first step, we are taking the lead in rebalancing our tariffs during the month of November. Accordingly, our new tariffs as indicated below will come into effect from November 26, 2021,” the company said.
The current Rs 79 plan will cost Rs 99 from Friday, a hike of 25 per cent. The Rs 149 plan will cost Rs 179, the Rs 1,498 plan will go up to Rs 1,799 and the Rs 2,498 plan will now cost Rs 2,999.
Airtel further mentioned that data top ups will now cost Rs 58 (up from Rs 48), Rs 118 (Rs 98) and Rs 301 (Rs 251), respectively.