Maharashtra mobile subscribers feel the pinch as Airtel and Idea hike tariffs

Reported by Imon Aryan Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, News Last Updated: July 28, 2015 at 6:01 pm 52

After Vodafone’s data tariff hikes in Maharashtra circle, Airtel and Idea have also hiked data tariffs in the region.

Incumbent operators Airtel, Vodafone and Idea dominate in Maharashtra. So the recent hike will have a huge impact on those loyal customers who use these networks.
The three networks have a dominant control over the market in the region and cheaper operators like Aircel and Reliance do not provide 3G services. Hence these frequent data tariff hikes are bleeding the customers’ pockets.
In the recent hike, Airtel has increased cost for 3G packs, and benefits in 2G packs have been drastically reduced. Airtel has also introduced new packs with higher denominations.
Earlier, 1 GB 3G cost Rs 251 but now customers have to recharge with Rs 298 to get the same benefits. Other 2 GB and 3 GB packs will cost more. They have also removed some cheaper 2G Data packs and now 1 GB 2G will cost Rs 199.

Airtel Data Packs with details after revision :
Price	Old Benefits	New Benefits
Rs 18	90 MB 2G Data for 2 Days	Pack Withdrawn
Rs 19	New Launched	60 MB 2G Data for 2 Days
Rs 23	New Launched	70 MB 2G Data for 2 Days
Rs 25	100 MB 3G Data for 3 Days	60 MB 3G Data for 3 Days
Rs 41	200 MB 2G WhatsApp data for 30 Days	Pack Withdrawn
Rs 45	New Launched	180 MB 2G WhatsApp data for 28 Days
Rs 48	175 MB 3G Data for 7 Days	Pack Withdrawn
Rs 54	New Launched	160 MB 3G Data for 5 Days
Rs 98	500 MB 2G Data for 14 Days	400 MB 2G Data for 14 Days
Rs 99	300 MB 3G Data for 14 Days	Pack Withdrawn
Rs 101	New Launched	250 MB 3G Data for 14 Days
Rs 124	625 MB 2G Data for 18 Days	Pack Withdrawn
Rs 125	New Launched	500 MB 2G Data for 16 Days
Rs 153	500 MB 3G Data for 21 Days	615 MB 2G Data for 19 Days
Rs 154	New Launched	470 MB 3G Data for 14 Days
Rs 198	New Launched	600 MB 3G Data for 21 Days
Rs 199	600 MB 3G Data for 28 Days	1 GB 2G Data for 28 Days
Rs 247	New Launched	1.25 GB 2G +Unlimited at 2G speed
Rs 252	3 GB 2G +Unlimited at 2G speed	765 MB 3G Data for 21 Days
Rs 251	1 GB 3G Data for 28 Days	Pack Withdrawn
Rs 298	New Launched	1 GB 3G Data for 28 Days
Rs 351	1.5 GB 3G Data for 28 Days	Pack Withdrawn
Rs 347	New Launched	1.25 GB 3G Data for 28 Days
Rs 455	2 GB 3G Data for 28 Days	Pack Withdrawn
Rs 498	New Launched	2 GB 3G Data for 28 Days
Rs 655	3 GB 3G Data for 28 Days	2.5 GB 3G Data for 28 Days
Rs 698	New Launched	3 GB 3G Data for 28 Days
Rs 749	4 GB 3G then Unlimited for 28 Days	Pack Withdrawn
Rs 798	New Launched	4 GB 3G then Unlimited for 28 Days
Airtel has also changed other data packs for heavy users and some packs now have fewer benefits. So do check with Customer care before recharge.

On the other hand, Idea Cellular has hiked upto 45 percent in data tariffs. Idea 3G and 2G users will now have to pay more.
Idea users will have to pay Rs 299 instead of Rs 249 for 1 GB 3G recharge. They have also reduced other data packs benefits and new packs have been introduced at higher prices. Let’s take a look at recent pack details below.

Idea data packs after revision :
Price	Old Benefits	New Benefits
2G Packs :
Rs 52	260 MB 2G Data for 7 Days	210 MB 2G Data for 6 Days
Rs 98	475 MB 2G Data for 14 Days	400 MB 2G Data for 12 Days
Rs 125	New Launched	512 MB 2G Data for 14 Days
Rs 151	750 MB 2G Data for 21 Days	600 MB 2G Data for 18 Days
Rs 179	New Launched	700 MB 2G Data for 21 Days
Rs 198	1.25 GB 2G Data for 28 Days	1 GB 2G Data for 28 Days
Rs 248	New Launched	1.25 GB 2G Data for 28 Days
3G Packs :
Rs 169	650 MB 3G Data for 15 Days	512 MB 3G Data for 14 Days
Rs 249	1 GB 3G Data for 28 Days	750 MB 3G Data for 28 Days
Rs 299	New Launched	1 GB 3G Data for 28 Days
Rs 449	2 GB 3G Data for 28 Days	1.75 GB 3G Data for 28 Days
Rs 497	New Launched	2 GB 3G Data for 28 Days
Rs 598	3 GB 3G Data for 28 Days	2.5 GB 3G Data for 28 Days
Rs 698	New Launched	3 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days
Rs 751	4 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days	3.25 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days
Rs 851	6 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days	3.75 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days
Rs 899	New Launched	4 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days
Rs 951	7 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days	4.25 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days
Rs 1099	New Launched	5 GB 3G UL Data for 28 Days
Idea has also changed other data packs for heavy users and some packs with less benefits. So do check with Customer care before recharge.

*Information taken from companies’ websites.
*Do check with Care Executive before opting for any plan or making a recharge.
How do you look at this move from Airtel and Idea do let us know via comments.