India’s major telecom operators are set to increase prepaid and postpaid plan prices by up to 20% in 2026, affecting millions of users nationwide. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) are expected to revise their tariffs, following a trend observed every two years.
Impact on Popular Plans
- Airtel: The 28-day Unlimited 5G plan, currently priced at ₹319, could rise to ₹419, an increase of ₹100. The 50GB postpaid plan may jump to ₹539.
- Jio: The ₹299 plan offering 1.5GB daily data may increase to ₹359. Meanwhile, the 28-day 5G plan priced at ₹349 could rise to ₹429.
- Vi (Vodafone Idea): The 28-day 1GB daily data plan may increase from ₹340 to ₹419, and the 56-day 2GB daily plan could rise from ₹579 to ₹699.
Why Prices Are Rising
According to a report by Morgan Stanley, telecom operators typically increase their plan tariffs every two years to offset rising operational costs. The last price hike occurred in July 2024, and the next is expected in 2026.
5G Plans to Get Costlier
Analysts predict that the cost of 5G data plans—both prepaid and postpaid—could increase by 16-20%, which will also boost operators’ average revenue per user (ARPU).
How Companies Increase Revenue
Telecom operators often increase revenue not only by raising plan prices but also by reducing plan validity or limiting benefits included in the packages. Recent changes by Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL have made it necessary for customers to pay more to enjoy the same or extended services.
As a result, mobile users may need to adjust their budgets and recharge strategies to cope with the upcoming tariff hike.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.