Idea Cellular, the third largest telecom operator in India has silently hiked prices of its data packs for postpaid users. This move by Idea will affect postpaid users across many circles including Kolkata, Delhi, Punjab, and UP West circles. Prices of 2G as well as 3G data packs have been hiked by upto 25 percent.
Idea is struggling as it paid the highest amount in the recent concluded spectrum auction. Idea is also cutting down on freebies and other offers. Many Idea circles have also seen huge data hikes in the prepaid segment in the past few days.
In the 2G category, the company has withdrawn old packs of Rs. 155, Rs. 175, Rs. 195, Rs. 255 & introduced new packs with higher prices. You will have to spend Rs. 200 for 1GB of data over 2G speeds, which was earlier priced at Rs. 175. You can take a look at other packs in the chart below.
| Details of Revised Idea Postpaid 2G Data Packs | ||
| Data Benefits | Old Rates | New Rates |
| 1 GB 2G Data | Rs 175 | Rs 200 |
| 1.25 GB 2G Data | Rs 195 | Rs 250 |
| 2 GB UL 2G Data | Rs 255 | Rs 200 |
In the 3G segment, customers will have to pay Rs. 300 for 1GB of 3G data as the company has hiked its prices from Rs. 250, which is around 20 percent hike. The telco has also revised others 3G packs, which will cost upto Rs. 100 more than the old ones.
| Details of Revised Idea Postpaid 3G Data Packs | ||
| Data Benefits | Old Rates | New Rates |
| 1 GB 3G Data | Rs 250 | Rs 300 |
| 2 GB 3G Data | Rs 450 | Rs 500 |
| 3 GB 3G Data | Rs 599 | Rs 700 |
| 4 GB 3G Data | Rs 750 | Rs 900 |
| 5 GB 3G Data | Rs 850 | Rs 1150 |
| 6 GB 3G Data | Rs 950 | Rs 1250 |
Also Read: Airtel hikes postpaid 2G and 3G data tariffs across India
Since 2010, in the last 4 spectrum auctions, Idea has made a commitment of Rs. 483,616 million for the spectrum. The company is slated to launch its Kolkata 3G services by end of this calendar year. Idea has also bagged 1800 MHz spectrum band in 10 service areas of Kerala (10 MHz), Maharashtra & Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, North East, Tamil Nadu and Orissa (5MHz each) for future 4G deployment.
As per our sources, these hikes are just because of the expansion of its networks in 3G circles & spectrum cost. It is also working hard to setup 4G networks in its maximum revenue generating circles to counter Reliance JIO's 4G launch.
