For years the telecom companies have been slashing down the recharge tariffs in a way to battle the cut-throat war that has existed ever since Jio entered the picture in 2016. But this ends now. The telecom services have become expensive as the leading telecom companies-- Airtel, Jio and Vodafone -- have announced tariff hike. While Jio's new plans will go live from December 6, Airtel and Vodafone Idea have already revealed the new plans and they are live now.
Airtel:
Starting with Airtel, the new Airtel plans see a hike ranging from 50 paise a day to Rs 2.85 a day. Along with the data and calling benefits, the new Airtel plans also offer benefits as part of the Airtel Thanks platform, which enables access to premium content from Airtel Xstream, Wynk Music, device protection, anti-virus protection and more.
The new Airtel plans start at Rs 19 and go all the way up to Rs 2,398. The company has kept FUP limit on unlimited calling from Airtel to other networks. There is a FUP limit of 1000 off-net minutes for all 28 days unlimited plans, 3000 minutes for all 84 days unlimited plans and 1200 minutes for 365 days unlimited plans. All calls beyond these FUP limits will be charged at 6 paise per minute.
- Rs 19 plan: Airtel has not increased the tariff in this plan. The plan offers unlimited calling and 150MB data with a new benefit of 100 SMS to the users. This plan is valid for 2 days.
-- Rs 49 plan: The old Rs 35 plan has been changed to Rs 49 plan now with a price hike of 50 paise per day in this plan. The new plan offers talk time worth Rs 38.52 instead of Rs 26.66 and 100MB data. Validity lasts for 28 days.
-- Rs 79 plan: The company has changed the Rs 65 plan to Rs 79. The plan offers Rs 63.95 talk time along with 200MB data. Price has increased by 50 paise per day.
-- Rs 148 plan: Airtel has revised the price of the Rs 129 plan to now Rs 148. It offers unlimited calling, 300 SMS, 2GB data and access to Airtel Xstream, Wynk music and Hello Tunes for 28 days.
-- Rs 248 plan: Airtel has dropped the Rs 169 and Rs 199 to introduce single Rs 248 plan. It offers unlimited calling, 100 SMS per day and 1.5GB data per day for 28 days. The users will also get access to Airtel Xstream, Wynk music, Hello Tunes and Anti-virus mobile protection for 28 days.
-- Rs 298 plan: The old Rs 249 plan has been revised to Rs 298 to offer same benefit. The plan offers unlimited Calling, 100 SMS per day, 2 GB per day and Airtel Thanks benefits for 28 days.
-- Rs 598 plan: The old Rs 448 has been changed to Rs 598 to offer unlimited calling, 100 SMS per day, and 1.5 GB per data per day for 84 days. The number of validity days has been increased from 82 days to 84 days. The price increase per day here is of Rs 1.66.
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-- Rs 698 plan: Airtel has revised the Rs 499 plan to now cost Rs 698. It offers unlimited calling, 100 SMS per day, 2 GB data per day and Airtel thanks benefits for 84 days instead of 82 days. The price increase per day compared to the old plan is of Rs 2.22.
-- Rs 1498 plan: The old Rs 998 plan is no more. Instead you have Rs 1498 plan that offers unlimited calling, 3600 SMS, and 24GB data for 365 days. The Airtel Thanks benefits is also included in the plan.
-- Rs 2398 plan: Airtel is giving unlimited calling, 100 SMS per day, and 1.5 GB per day under this plan. This is a revised version of the Rs 1699 plan that offered the same benefits but a lower price.
Vodafone:
Vodafone was the first telco to announce tariff hike. The company has announced a maximum increase of up to 50 per cent in its tariff. The new Vodafone recharge plans can be availed through MyVodafone App, MyIdea App, the company's website, leading e-wallets like PayTM, Google Pay, PhonePe, Amazon Pay, etc or at your nearest recharge outlet or Vodafone Idea store. Consumers can also dial *121# from your Vodafone or Idea number and purchase the plan.
Vodafone now offers only two plans under the combo vouchers- one at Rs 49 and the other at Rs 79. The Rs 49 combo voucher gives a talk time of Rs 38, 100 MB data, 2.5 paise per second tariff with 28 days validity while the Rs 79 voucher offers Rs 64 talk time, 200MB data, 1 paise per second tariff with 28 days validity.
Next is the unlimited packs for 28 days. Vodafone previously offered ten plans under the unlimited packs for 28 days but now the number of plans has reduced. The company now offers only four plans- Rs 149, Rs 249, Rs 299 and Rs 399. The Rs 149 plan offers unlimited voice calls, 2 GB data and 300 SMS. Second is the Rs 249 plan that offers unlimited voice calls, 1.5 GB per day of data, and 100 SMS a day. Next is the Rs 299 plan that offers unlimited voice calls, 2 GB per day of data, and 100 SMS a day. Last but not the least you have Rs 399 plan that offers unlimited voice calls, 3 GB per day of data and 100 SMS a day. There is a FUP limit of 1000 minutes on all unlimited calling from Vodafone to other network.
Vodafone next has unlimited packs for 84 days wherein the company has set the FUP limit of 3000 minutes for calls from Vodafone to other networks. You get three plans under this- Rs 379, Rs 599 and Rs 699 with benefits of unlimited calling and 6GB, 1.5GB and 2GB data respectively.
There is also a Vodafone unlimited annual pack that comes with a validity of 365 days. The plans cost Rs 1499 and Rs 2399. The Rs 1499 plan offers unlimited voice calls with FUP of 12000 minutes for calls to other networks, 24 GB data, and 3600 SMS for a validity period of 365 days. Second is the Rs 2399 plan that offers unlimited voice with FUP of 12000 minutes, 1.5 GB data a day, and 100 SMS per day for 365 days.