As we had earlier predicted when Idea Cellular hiked its 2G and 3G data packs significantly, others operators have also started to increase their price of their data packs. Idea Cellular was the first telecom company to hike its data tariff in the Delhi & NCR circle but now, Bharti Airtel has also revealed that it has also hiked its data tariff across all its telecom circles in India.
This data tariff hike from Airtel is result of pulling back of discounts that the company was offering on data recharges done online. This brings the price of data packs at par with what is offered offline.
“There is a slight change in few of our online prepaid data packs owing to the discontinuation of discounted offers on these,” said an Airtel spokesman.
Here is a comparison of the older and the newer tariff of some of the popular 2G and 3G data packs from Airtel:
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3G Data Packs Comparison |
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| Old Data Pack (Data – Price – Validity) | After June 2015 Hike (Data – Price – Validity) |
| 300 MB – Rs. 102 – 30 days | 300 MB – Rs. 95 – 14 days |
| 1 GB – Rs. 249 – 30 days | 1 GB – Rs. 255 – 28 days |
| 2.5 GB – Rs. 449 – 30 days | 2 GB – Rs. 475 – 30 days |
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2G Data Packs Comparison |
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| 2 GB – Rs. 199 – 30 days | 1.25 GB – Rs. 199 – 28 days |
Disclaimer: While we take great care in ensuring the accuracy of data, some errors may creep in due to revision in prices and variation of tariff plans across different telecom circles.
You Won’t Have To Change Your Browsing Habits Significantly
There hasn’t been much hike in data prices as compared to what Idea Cellular introduced a few days back across its Delhi & NCR circle. Idea Cellular not only reduced the data benefits significantly but also reduced the validity of the data packs for its subscribers across Delhi & NCR circle.
Talking about this hike in Airtel data packs, let’s consider for example, 1 GB of 3G internet pack – It was priced at Rs. 249 and had a validity of 30 days previously. It has now been revised to Rs. 255 and has a validity of 28 days. So, all that you are looking at this data hike is Rs. 7 extra for 2 days less validity.
On the other hand, Rs. 199 2G 2GB data pack with a validity of 30 days will now come with 1.25 GB 2G data and 28 days validity. Now given the fact that you won’t be able to browse heavy websites using Airtel 2G, all that this hike will change is put some kind of restriction on your downloading habits. If you can restrict downloading too many wallpapers, ringtones, videos, and audio songs then you won’t have to change your browsing habits in any way.
More Operators Will Follow Suit Soon…
The telecom operators have shelled out close to Rs. 1.1 Lakh Crore during the 2015 Spectrum auction for renewing and buying new licenses across various telecom circles in India. This hike in the tariff plans of various operators was widely anticipated since the operators will have to boost their revenue for paying their dues.
Idea Cellular will reveal its revised data plans across the rest of its circles very soon while Airtel has already cut down on discounts for increasing its profits. Vodafone, Reliance, Tata Docomo, Uninor, and Aircel haven’t revealed their plans of tariff revision at moment but they will do so very soon.
