Airtel’s new tariff makes it pricier for base users

NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel’s new plan, rolled out following the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) directive to introduce a single voice and SMS tariff pack, has made the rates 10-15% more expensive for basic phone users.

Airtel’s updated Rs 509 pack, valid for 84 days, now offers unlimited voice calls and 900 free SMS messages, but offers no mobile data, a departure from its previous inclusion of 6GB data. Similarly, the revised Rs 1,999 annual prepaid plan no longer includes mobile data benefits, which previously comprised 24GB, in addition to unlimited voice calls and 3,000 free SMSes.