Telecom operators Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular have hiked charges for postpaid customers by 20 percent in various circles, including the national capital.
As per information posted on the companies’ websites, Airtel has raised data tariffs in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP East, and UP West circles.
Idea Cellular has done the same in Delhi, Punjab, and UP West.
Postpaid customers of both operators in the designated circles will now have to pay Rs. 300 for 1GB 3G data usage, as against Rs. 250 earlier.
Vodafone, however, has not raised data charges in the postpaid category and continues to offer 1GB 3G data for Rs. 250.
Airtel, Idea, and Vodafone had raised prepaid data tariffs for 2G and 3G services in Delhi by up to 47 percent in June following the spectrum auctions in March, when operators acquired airwaves worth Rs. 1,01,000 crores.
In a bid to improve profitability, telcos have been cutting back on discounts and freebies. Last year also, firms including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea had increased data as well as call tariffs. After the March spectrum auction, industry associations had said there would be hike in tariffs as operators have to meet the commitment to the government.
Vodafone last week said it aims to roll out 4G mobile services by December, in five circles – Bengaluru, Delhi, Kochi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. The company had started 4G trials in selected areas in July.
