Airtel tariff hiked by 57%: Minimum monthly recharge now starts at Rs 155

Telecom major Bharti Airtel has announced to hike the tariff. The company has discontinued the minimum recharge plan of Rs 99 in seven more circles including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh West, months after it was scrapped in the two circles of Odisha and Haryana. Airtel's entry-level plan or minimum recharge for the 28-day now starts at Rs 155, implying a 57 per cent jump from now discontinued plan.

The company has stopped its minimum recharge plan of Rs 99, under which it offered 200 megabyte of data and calls at the rate of Rs 2.5 paise per second. In Haryana and Odisha, Airtel has now started offering the Rs 155 plan with unlimited calling, 1 GB of data and 300 SMSes. The company had initially implemented the hiked tariff in Haryana and Odisha in November.

"In line with our focus on providing a better customer experience, we have discontinued the metered tariff and introduced an entry-level plan of Rs 155 with unlimited voice, 1 GB data and 300 sms. Customers can now use this plan with no constraints. We believe this plan will prove greater flexibility, convenience and superior value," an Airtel spokesperson told PTI.

Other circles where the Rs 99 plan has been replaced with Rs 155 recharge plan are-- Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, North East and Himachal Pradesh.

According to sources closely engaged with the development, the company will roll out the same across India gradually.

The company is likely to end all 28-day calling plans with SMS and data priced below Rs 155. This means that even for getting SMS service in the monthly plan, a customer will have to recharge his mobile phone account with a Rs 155 voucher.