Airtel hikes minimum monthly charge by 95%

Bharti Airtel in a public notice issued today across newspapers in India has notified the discontinuation of its existing SUK base plan effective today along with a 95% hike in its monthly minimum recharge.

The Rs 23 smart recharge plan is set to be discontinued and replaced by the Rs 45 smart recharge plan which is now live on the Airtel app. The plan offers 28 days of validity, local and STD calling at Rs 2.5p/sec and local and STD SMS at Rs 1.5. It offers the same benefit as the existing Rs 23 smart recharge plan which is likely to be discontinued today. The Rs 23 plan was yet to be taken down from the Airtel app at the time of going to press.

Bharti Airtel in its public notice was quoted as saying,

“This notice is for Prepaid subscribers of Bharti Airtel Limited and Bharti Hexacom Limited (‘Airtel’) in all service areas. With effect from 29th December 2019, the existing SUK base plan is being discontinued. Further, it will be mandatory to recharge with a voucher of Rs 45 or above, every 28 days to avail services. In case of non-recharge with a voucher of Rs 45 of above, all services will be suspended post the grace period.”

It will be mandatory to recharge with a voucher of Rs 45 or above, every 28 days to avail services. Incase of recharge with STV/Combo/Top-up voucher of MRP greater than or equal to Rs 45, the validity of the tariff plan will be extended with the validity of Combo/STV Voucher and in case of top-up voucher by 28 days.

Incase of non-recharge with a voucher of Rs 45 or above, at the end of the tariff validity period, Airtel reserves the right to provide the plan benefits in a curtailed manner during the grace period of upto 15 days at its own discretion. Incase of non-recharge with a voucher of Rs 45 or above, all services will be suspended post the grace period.

Airtel had earlier this month hiked its tariff plans by upto 40%. It later brought back truly unlimited calling to its packs along with the introduction of new plans.