- Bharti Airtel has increased the price of the minimum monthly recharge pack from Rs 99 to Rs 155.
- The increased price is currently available in Haryana and Odisha.
- The Rs 155 recharge gives unlimited voice calls, 1GB of data and 300 SMS.
Bharti Airtel has increased the price of its minimum monthly recharge by 57 percent in Haryana and Odisha. The telecom operator will no longer offer the Rs 99 plan in these two states; instead, it will now offer the Rs 155 plan as its lowest prepaid recharge plan. We can expect this pack to roll out across the country shortly. This is a 57 percent surge in minimum recharge value and will come as a burden to those who just want to keep their number active.
Airtel’s minimum recharge plan at Rs 99 would offer 200MB data and calls at the rate of Rs 2.5 paise per second for 28 days. In comparison, the Rs 155 recharge gives unlimited voice calls, 1GB of data and 300 SMSes.
Airtel Rs 155 recharge plan
While the Rs 155 recharge plan offers more benefits like unlimited voice calls to any network, 300 SMS and 1GB of data, the Rs 99 was affordable. It remains to be seen how telecom subscribers would react to the massive price hike. The Rs 155 pack has a validity of 24 days, which is again a shorter validity compared to the 28-day monthly plan of Rs 99.
The Rs 155 recharge pack also bundles additional benefits like free Wynk Music and Hellotunes. Benefits aside, the price hike is definitely a burden on customers who just want to retain the phone number as they are required to recharge more frequently than before.
Reports suggest that Airtel has started the trial of the new plan in Haryana and Odisha and may roll out the same across the country, probably based on the reactions. Airtel may also discontinue all 28-day plans with calls, SMS and data that are priced under Rs 155. If this happens, users will have no choice but to recharge with Rs 155 to get SMS services or to continue to keep the SIM active.
To recall, Airtel had a similar price hike back in 2021, where it increased the minimum recharge offer from s 79 to Rs 99 in select circles.
