New Delhi: With Reliance Jio, hot on its heels, Airtel has rolled out its 4G high-speed data services in 296 towns across India. The telecom operator has been carrying out public test runs of the service in select towns with the first 4G network deployed in Kolkata in 2012.
The service will be available to customers through 4G-enabled mobile phones, internet dongles and Wi-Fi routers. Airtel will offer 4G data plans at 3G prices and users who swap their 3G sim cards with 4G ones will get benefits such as unlimited access to Airtel’s music service for six months and a certain number of free movies on its new online movies platform. 4G data packs will start at Rs 25.
Airtel has also introduced a new range of ‘Infinity Plans’ starting Rs 999. These plans will offer unlimited voice calls on mobile along with data benefits and access to Airtel’s movies and music services.
The company also launched Flexpage, an automated platform that allows customers to track their data usage and get real time usage alerts. With Flexpage, customers can also upgrade their mobile plan on the go, as and when they exhaust their monthly data quota. Customers can also opt from amongst a host of 4G smart bytes starting at Rs 100.
“With the help of the feedback received from the beta launches, we have now built India’s first commercial 4G network that will make high speed mobile broadband a reality. The national roll-out today is another small step in our journey to be the most innovative and customer focused brand,” Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO, Bharti Airtel (India & South Asia) said, in a statement.
“We also believe that an open platform is critical to developing an ecosystem that nurtures innovation and enabling our consumers to access a myriad set of possibilities on their mobile phones. Our 4G network is therefore built on an open partner ecosystem model that brings together the best in the industry and introduces the market to these never before experiences,” Vittal added.
