Telecom giant Bharti Airtel is offering an upgraded version of its Rs 129 and Rs 199 prepaid plan with revised validity and benefits to select users across the country. Airtel is sending out messages to select customers promoting Rs 199 prepaid plan with 28 days validity which offers 1.5GB/day data benefits instead of 24 days validity with 1GB/day data benefits.
Airtel’s Rs 129 prepaid plan and Rs 199 prepaid plan are now offering select Airtel customer’s increased validity of 28 days, up from the 24 days validity it provided earlier. Airtel has also upgraded the benefits of its Rs 199 prepaid plan to offer 1.5GB data per day whereas earlier the plan offered 1GB data per day for select users.
| Plan | Normal Benefits | Upgraded Benefits (Select Users) |
| Rs 129 Prepaid Plan | 1GB, 300 SMS, unlimited calling with 24 days validity | 1GB, 300 SMS, unlimited calling, and 28 days validity |
| Rs 199 Prepaid Plan | 1GB/day, 100 SMS/day, unlimited calling, and 24 days validity | 1.5GB/day, 100 SMS/day, unlimited calling and 28 days validity |
Airtel’s Rs 129 prepaid plan has only had an increase in the validity by 4 days while the rest benefits and pricing remain untouched. Airtel’s Rs 199 prepaid plan has however witnessed a drastic change in offerings with select customers now getting 1.5GB data per day instead of 1GB data per day along with increased validity of 28 days. The calling and SMS benefits on Rs 199 prepaid plan remains the same.
Airtel in its message to an inactive customer said, “Exclusively for YOU! Recharge with 199 Airtel pack and get unlimited calls, Free Hellotunes, 1.5GB/day for 28 days ONLY on Airtel Thanks App. bit.ly/exprygrd.”
Another message sent to an active Airtel number with Rs 49 smart pack had similar benefits but a different message.
The offer is available to inactive customers and active customers on the lower end packs such as Rs 49 smart pack. OnlyTech was able to spot the offer on multiple Airtel numbers having Rs 49 smart pack and also on Airtel numbers which are inactive currently. However, the offer is not available for unlimited plan users above a select threshold with 2 Airtel numbers having Rs 379 and Rs 449 unlimited pack showing normal benefits for the aforesaid prepaid plans.
The revision in Rs 199 plan seems to be a strategic move to attract those on the lower end plans to subscribe to the Rs 199 prepaid plan since Rs 219 prepaid plan only offers 1GB/day data with 28 days validity. Rs 249 prepaid plan also offers 1.5GB/day data with 28 days validity however the cheaper alternative at Rs 199 offering the same data benefits will attract those on the lower end plans to jump up to the Rs 199 prepaid plan. Basically, Airtel is pushing its lower-end customers to opt for an unlimited plan as it looks to boost up its ARPU.
The key difference between Rs 199 and Rs 249 prepaid plan is of Airtel Thanks benefits with Rs 199 plan offering Airtel Thanks Silver benefits while Rs 249 onwards prepaid plans offer Airtel Thanks Gold benefits. Those on the Rs 199 prepaid plan will get the same data, calling, and SMS benefits but lesser benefits with no access to Shaw Academy, and Airtel Xsteeam Premium.
In other news, Airtel recently expanded the reach of its Rs 129 and Rs 199 prepaid plans which were earlier not available in select cities. Both the plans were initially available in few cities since January which was expanded in July to many cities. Airtel is now said to offer both the plans on a pan India basis.
