A week back, we covered a story – ‘Five moves Airtel can think about for better 4G penetration‘, and it seems Airtel is thinking seriously to be leader in wireless broadband segment. Airtel cuts down the 4G-LTE devices pricing to Rs 4,999 from earlier Rs 7999 (dongle) and Rs 7750 (WiFi router).
With the price cut Airtel also revised the discounts on Breakfree Ultra and Ultimate plans for postpaid users. The new pricing of the devices and revised plans are available in both Kolkata and Bangaluru.
Airtel 4G New Plan Details
| Plan Name | Breakfree Ultra | Breakfree Ultimate |
| Rental | 1999 | 2999 |
| Data benefits | 18GB at high speed, then speed capped at 128kbps | 30GB at high speed, then speed capped at 128kbps |
| Cashback offer | total Rs 3749 discount over 12 months | total Rs 4999 discount over 12 months |
| Effective discount per month | Rs 312 | Rs 416 |
Update: It has been learnt that the price cut is for limited period and valid till 31st August, 2012.
I guess if Airtel got good response from 4G with this reduced device price, they will continue offering the 4G/LTE dongles and routers at this price or may be further reduction in device prices can be seen. But only price cut on devices will not push 4G/LTE to masses, Airtel must think about other moves which we suggested for mass acceptance of 4G/LTE-TDD.
For more details call Airtel representative on toll free number 1800 103 0405.
Sajied October 4, 2012 at 8:49 pm
What 4G ?, when there is no 3G coverage in some area why to launch 4G then.
Mehboob MXM September 9, 2012 at 12:40 am
abhijith Well said man!!!! India is a aG oG country how can 3G 4G work,,, lol
Ratish August 22, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Wt is the maximum speed of 4G tell me that
kishor July 25, 2012 at 3:05 pm
what is the speed of 4G.. please specify it along with thariff card
abhijith July 8, 2012 at 8:44 pm
First 3g next 4g . . But 3g is still out of coverage area . . Then 4g ill be no where in our area . .
Pavan July 7, 2012 at 5:54 pm
is there any unlocked datacard for 4G….
Jitu July 6, 2012 at 11:04 pm
@ Tharun george…you r right….wireline broadband is very cheap in u.k and u.s.
venkatesh July 6, 2012 at 9:48 pm
cutting down the device cost will never help airtel to increase in sales of this devices because they reduced their profit margin on the device but not the price, airtel will never reduce the price it knows only following when other service providers does………how many users are using 4g in bangalore i think not even 1000 people!!!!
Tharun George July 6, 2012 at 9:42 pm
4G and 3G are still costly around the world including U.K and U.S. Even 2G is more expensive in other counties. Only India offer cheapest 2G and fair 3G.
Still India fails in broadband. Broadband is very expensive when compared to other countries where all offer true unlimited a higher speed cheaply.
Recently I check Shaw Cable Canada websites. Shaw cable offer offer 250mbps internet with 1TB for $110. True unlimited 250mbps for 130$.
Also saw an article on Newyork times website about 1gbps internet in Hong Kong for 20$.
I am not telling India need 250mbps or 1gbps for cheap. But we should get 10mbps which is the world average. At least 5mbps.
But we get 1 or 2mbps from BSNL and other with no true unlimited and high cost for small 1GB. This is totally unfair. The government never cared about broadband in India till now. We had to wait 5 year to improve speed from 256kbps to 2mbps for BSNL in 2007. Now another 5 years over after that still we get 2mbps.
Jitu July 6, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Device is Still costlier for mass adoption….only 4G can bring broadband revolution in India….In U.K 40 mbps unlimited plan (without any FUP) is available in Rs. 2250….If you think i am joking then read article in PC PRO magazine U.K. July Edition..which is eaisly available in torrent sites…If you dont find then tell me i will send u thru mail.
Venky July 6, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Now days the quality really matters, by making their name more exposed to the media doesn’t make their quality more effective. I traveled to uae, London, Netherlands etc where i could find real quality in their products by just focusing on customer needs. Our government trying to make the future auction as a level playing one it is a good decision but other side is weak and no concentration is happening. Vodafone uk I have used their services it is the same services I am able to get their also, to conclude the one which stands at the first is not easy, they must reach to their position by not simply adding customers they must have differentiated by many means to others right. The future of any product will depends on how will they design their product and deliver it.
Tharun George July 6, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Airtel should launch more low cost plans. Currently they have 2 or 3 “Big” plans.
They should introduce plans like BSNL broadband plans. So people can switch from broadband to Airtel 4G. Airtel 4G should be a broadband replacement.
I don’t think 4G is an option for portable users as there is no 4G mobiles in market and low coverage and no roaming.
Tharun George July 6, 2012 at 5:51 pm
What ever the price of device, these apply to users in Kolkata and banglore.
Rest of India is still waiting for other operators or Airtel to launch in all circles.
Venky July 6, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Why reliance delaying his pan India 4G release?
rohit July 6, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Very good speed ! also alans are value 4 money ……good going airtel
keep ur flag high !!!!
Ganesh Srinivasan July 6, 2012 at 4:58 pm
On the day you had your 5 point agenda post, I had posted a comment stating that the prices are coming down to Rs 5,000
That’s the day I was getting the demo done for our apartment association. We got speeds of 11 Mbps
At that speed and good coverage by Airtel, I would say that the plans are value for money
Spiderman July 6, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Still a good option for Bangalore guys, 5 to 10 people staying together so, the rates won’t be a burden & can enjoy the 4G services at low cost !
Spiderman July 6, 2012 at 4:36 pm
For normal users doing medium downloads 3G speed & 3g packs are well enough !
Current 4G rates & plans are OK & backward 3G compatibility in other circles also good move from a premium operator like Airtel..
I’m a normal person & I do like the plans & services in 4G & experienced 4g demo, but difficult to afford it simply.. If there were no 3G providers, I’ll definitely would have bought 4G from Airtel !
Ramesh Darji July 6, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Good move but still the price is high and considering cheaper 3G data, e.g. in Docomo effective rate of 1 GB is Rs. 35 to 40 (246 recharge and 4 recharge and talktime 219), people will not go for the same