Airtel Discontinues Rs. 299 Recharge Plan; Users May Face Higher Costs

Bharti Airtel has discontinued several prepaid recharge plans, including the popular Rs. 299 plan, effectively increasing the cost for customers who previously relied on these lower-priced options.

The Rs. 299 plan offered 1.5GB of daily data with a 28-day validity period. With the plan no longer available, users looking for a similar daily-data option may have to switch to the Rs. 349 plan.

The Rs. 349 plan provides 2GB of daily data for 28 days, giving users an additional 0.5GB of data per day. However, customers will now have to pay Rs. 50 more for each recharge.

Airtel has also removed other prepaid plans priced at Rs. 579, Rs. 619 and Rs. 649. At the same time, the Rs. 399 plan, which offers 3GB of daily data for 28 days, continues to be available.

For customers looking for a basic option, the Rs. 199 plan with unlimited voice calling remains available.

While Airtel has not announced a direct tariff increase, the withdrawal of lower-priced plans effectively pushes some customers towards more expensive recharge options. This means users who previously recharged with the Rs. 299 plan could see their monthly mobile expenses increase.

The changes come amid expectations of a broader tariff revision in the Indian telecom sector. Industry observers have been predicting a potential 12% to 15% increase in telecom tariffs by the end of the year, although no such sector-wide hike has been officially confirmed yet.

Airtel customers should therefore check the latest prepaid plans and benefits before their next recharge, as plan availability and pricing can change.