New Delhi: Bharti Airtel has announced a Rs 50 per month increase across its postpaid portfolio, effective October 8, as the telecom major seeks to strengthen its premium customer base and increase average revenue per user (ARPU).
Alongside the revised tariffs, Airtel is introducing enhanced benefits, including a complimentary international roaming pack for eligible postpaid customers.
Free international roaming trip every year
Under the new offering, every postpaid SIM will be eligible for one free international roaming trip each year.
The complimentary roaming benefit will include a five-day pack offering 5GB of data, 60 minutes of voice calls, 25 outgoing SMS and free incoming SMS.
Customers subscribed to Airtel family postpaid plans will be able to avail the roaming benefit separately for each SIM linked to their account.
The company is positioning the enhanced roaming benefit as part of its effort to add greater value to its premium postpaid offerings.
Airtel adds premium features
The revised postpaid plans will also include several other features aimed at premium customers.
These include access to 5G Fast Lane technology, network-level protection against spam and fraudulent links, and entertainment benefits through the Airtel Postpaid Advantage Club.
The combination of connectivity, security and entertainment benefits is part of Airtel’s broader strategy to encourage customers to move towards higher-value plans.
Focus on premiumisation and ARPU growth
The tariff revision comes as Airtel continues to focus on premiumisation — a strategy aimed at increasing the proportion of higher-paying customers on its network.
The company has been restructuring its tariff offerings to encourage users to upgrade to plans with higher monthly charges and additional benefits.
Reports indicate that Airtel’s broader tariff restructuring could result in a monthly ARPU increase of around Rs 4 to Rs 12.
Airtel’s India ARPU stood at Rs 264 in the first quarter of FY27, compared with Rs 250 a year earlier, indicating an increase in the average revenue generated from each customer.
Airtel shares rise after tariff announcement
The tariff announcement also had a positive impact on Airtel’s shares. Bharti Airtel shares rose by more than 2% on Wednesday, trading at around Rs 1,843.50.
The move comes as telecom operators continue to look for ways to improve monetisation while investing heavily in 5G networks and digital services.
For Airtel, the higher postpaid tariffs are accompanied by additional benefits intended to make the revised plans more attractive to customers.
Existing customers can upgrade through app or stores
Existing Airtel customers can upgrade to the new postpaid plans from October 8 through the Airtel Thanks app or by visiting an Airtel store.
Customers who are not currently using Airtel can also apply for a new postpaid connection through the app or at their nearest Airtel store.
The revised plans and additional benefits mark another step in Airtel’s push towards premium postpaid services, with the company seeking to increase customer value while raising revenue per user.