- Airtel might hike recharge tariffs by mid-2023.
- This comes after the telco increased the price of the minimum plan in 19 circles across the country.
- Airtel plans to overtake Jio and become the largest telecom operator in the country.
After increasing the price of the minimum plan in 19 circles across the country, Airtel appears to be planning on making changes to its plan in mid-2023. considering the return on the business is very low. Airtel replaced the Rs 99 minimum plan with a Rs 155 tariff, which is a 57 percent increase. Airtel wants to increase the average revenue per user (ARPU) to Rs 300 and increasing tariffs is the only way forward for the telecom to compete against Reliance-backed Jio. It’s worth noting that Airtel has a healthy balance sheet thanks to the investments made earlier.
Despite this, the returns aren’t that good and the telco wants to make changes to the tariffs by mid of 2023. Airtel Chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal also believes that tariffs are very low and stresses about the importance of raising tariffs. He opined that the industry is not in favour of having one more Vodafone-Idea situation.
Airtel to increase tariffs plans by mid-2023
“We need a robust telecom company in the country. The dream of India is digital, economic growth is fully realised. I think the government is fully conscious, the regulator is conscious and people are also very conscious. The report states that Mittal differs with the view that increasing tariffs will impact the pocket of a few customers,” Sunil Bharti Mittal was quoted by PTI.
The recently introduced Rs 155 plan offers 1GB of data, 300 SMS, and unlimited calling. The company has raised the minimum recharge tariff in 19 circles but is yet to make changes in Madhya Pradesh, Kolkata, and Gujarat. Airtel managed to increase the ARPU by Rs 193 in December last year as compared to Rs 163 in December 2021.
Meanwhile, HSBC in a new report said that an increase in postpaid users and 5G are likely to push the growth of Airtel. The company so far has launched 5G in 151 cities and plans to expand the service in 300 cities by the end of this financial year. The report said that with the migration of subscribers to 4G from 2G, there will be an increase in mobile revenue growth. ARPU and an increase in postpaid users will help the telecom.
