Bharti Airtel surges prepaid tariff rates by up to 25 per cent

New Delhi: Bharti Airtel, a telecom company announced on Monday that it will increase prepaid tariff rates by up to 25% which will come to effect from November 26. In a notification to the exchanges, the company said that the decision was taken “to provide a reasonable return on capital for a financially healthy business model.”

“Bharti Airtel has always maintained that the mobile Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) needs to be at ₹ 200 and ultimately at ₹ 300,” Airtel stated.

Further, it added, “We also believe that this level of ARPU will enable the substantial investments required in networks and spectrum. Even more important, this will give Airtel the elbow room to roll out 5G in India. Therefore, as a first step, we are taking the lead in rebalancing our tariffs during the month of November. Accordingly our new tariffs will come into effect from November 26, 2021.”

Reportedly, the present Rs 79 plan will cost Rs 99 from November 26, resulting in a surge of 25%. Besides, Rs 149 plan will cost Rs 179, the Rs 1498 plan will cost Rs 1,799 and lastly, the Rs 2,498 plan will cost Rs 2,999.

Also, the company will increase the data top-ups. The Rs 48 plan will become Rs 58, Rs 98 will become Rs 118 and Rs 251 will become Rs 301.

Bharti Airtel’s shares touched a 52-week high of Rs 756, marking an increase of over 5% in the early trade, following the announcement of the tariff hike.