Airtel slashes mobile-internet charges by 50%, Idea by 45%! Go crazy surfing

While we are expecting a huge tariff war with the commercial launch of Reliance Jio’s 4G services, looks like the turf is already heating up significantly with telecom biggies like Airtel and Idea slashing their data tariff.

Bharti Airtel is looking to offer up to 67% more data benefits to its customers in what is seen as a bid to attract and retain users with Jio to launch its services in a couple of months. India’s top telecom operator and first 4G player, Airtel has slashed data rates effectively by 50% for downloads by prepaid customers between 3 AM and 5 AM. "At Airtel, we always aim to deliver a great mobile experience and value to our customers. These refreshed data packs will help drive consumption and boost the uptake of mobile internet in the country. Given the deepening smartphone penetration and Airtel's roll-out of data networks across India, we believe these packs will also drive affordability and bring new users online," Ajai Puri, Director - Operations (India & South Asia), Bharti Artel said in a statement.

Idea Cellular, the third largest telco in the country, has also slashed effective mobile internet rates for its prepaid customers by up to 45%.

Under the revised data benefits, the Rs 655 4G/3G monthly recharge pack will now offer 5 GB data vs 3 GB earlier, an increase of 67%. Similarly, the Rs 455 pack 4G/3G pack now offers 50% more data by increasing gata benefit to 3 GB from 2 GB. The Rs 989 4G/3G pack will now offer 10 GB data vs 6.5 GB earlier, offering 54% more benefits.

Reliance Jio already has 1.5million customers on its network even before the commercial launch of their 4G services. And in order to get more subscribers, the company is expected to enter the market in a couple of months with extremely competitive tariff plan. Consumers can expect to avail data at much lesser tariff, this war is only going to escalate going forward.