Bharti Airtel announces steep hike in mobile tariffs effective from July 3

NEW DELHI — Telecom major Bharti Airtel, on Friday, announced a steep hike in mobile tariffs, with effect from July 3.

In the unlimited voice plans, the company raised mobile tariffs from INR 179 to INR 199, from INR 455 to INR 599, and from INR 1,799 to INR 1,999 plan.

For post-paid plans, the INR 399 tariff plan will now be INR 449; the INR 499 plan will be INR 549; the INR 599 plan will cost INR 699 and INR 999 plan will now come for INR 1199, effective from July 3.

In a statement, Bharti Airtel said that it has maintained that the mobile average revenue per user (ARPU) needs to be above INR 300 to enable a financially healthy business model for Telcos in India.

 “We believe that this level of ARPU will enable the substantial investments required in network technology and spectrum and offer a modest return on capital,” said Bharti Airtel.

Bharti Airtel’s shares went up in early morning trade by around 1 per cent at INR 1,491 apiece.

Earlier, Reliance Jio also announced a 12-27 per cent hike in mobile tariffs.