Jio and Airtel have phased out entry-level 1GB/day prepaid plans, nudging users toward higher-value packs.
Analysts predict a formal tariff hike between December 2025 and June 2026, possibly led by Jio ahead of its IPO.
Telcos are focusing on sustainable revenue growth by encouraging longer recharge cycles and increased data consumption.
India’s telecom sector seems to be gearing up for another round of tariff revisions, with reports suggesting that Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) may increase mobile data plan prices by around 10% in the coming months. If implemented, this would be the first direct price hike after 2024 and will come at a time when the operators are restrategising their plans to boost the average revenue per user (ARPU) without explicitly announcing a headline tariff increase.
SurveyIn recent months, both Jio and Airtel have quietly phased out their entry-level 1 GB-per-day prepaid plans, effectively nudging users towards higher-value packs. The new baseline for most prepaid data users now starts at 1.5 GB per day, with plans starting around Rs 299, nearly 17% more than the earlier Rs 249 tier. On the other hand, Vi still offers a similar 1 GB-per-day plan, priced at Rs 299.
Both Airtel and Vi have been vocal about the need for tariff repair, given the capital-intensive nature of telecom operations and sustained investments in 5G infrastructure. Instead of an immediate price hike, telcos appear to be employing a subtler approach, reducing lower-cost options to push up overall ARPU.
Is price hike actually on the cards?
Reliance Jio, in its Q2 FY26 call, stated that the company has reported an ARPU of Rs 211.4, up from Rs 208.8 in the previous quarter. It also mentioned that there are ‘no immediate plans’ for a formal tariff hike. However, company executives admit they are ‘nudging consumers to consume more and happily pay more,’ reflecting a pricing strategy aimed at sustainable growth rather than short-term volume gains.
The company has encouraged users to move towards monthly or quarterly recharges and has created a more frequent revenue cycle with better cash flow visibility. Airtel has also adopted a similar approach, with its 28-day 1.5 GB-per-day plan now serving as the new entry point for most prepaid users.
On the other hand, brokerage firm Axis Capital and analyst Gaurav Malhotra have predicted a tariff hike between December 2025 and June 2026. According to JP Morgan, as cited by Communications Today, a potential hike of up to 15% as a strategic move by Jio before its IPO is likely, and will undoubtedly be followed by other telcos, given past trends.
Digit has reached out to Jio, Airtel, and Vi for comment and will update this article once the companies respond.
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Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile
