Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has hiked the tariffs of its prepaid plans. The telco among other operators is looking to gain more revenues out of its each customer. Vodafone Idea (Vi) and Bharti Airtel have time and again made the case that the average revenue per customer (ARPU) for the industry should go up to Rs 200 at least. But at current market prices, it’s very hard to do that. Thus the operators are looking towards tariff hikes and are increasing the prices of the plans or reducing the benefits of their existing plans and offering them for the same price. BSNL has implemented an indirect tariff hike as it has reduced the benefits of its plans but hasn’t changed the price at all.
BSNL Prepaid Plans Which Have Become Expensive
BSNL has revised three special tariff vouchers (STVs) including Rs 49, Rs 75, and Rs 94 vouchers. Further, the Rs 106, Rs 107, Rs 197, and Rs 397 plan vouchers (PVs) will now come with revised benefits. The state-run telco has reduced the benefits offered by these plans. All of the above-mentioned plans now come with reduced validities. These changes came into place on August 1, 2021.
The Rs 49 STV that used to offer users 28 days of validity now offers only 24 days. Likewise, the Rs 75 STV that came with a validity of 60 days will now come for 50 days only.
It is not just BSNL that is aiming for higher ARPU from its customers. Bharti Airtel, the second-largest operator in India also removed its Rs 49 prepaid plan throughout India. Now the customers will have to spend at least Rs 79 with Airtel to keep consuming unlimited voice calling and data services. According to industry experts, BSNL is further expected to raise tariffs of its prepaid plans in the coming days. This change is not surprising to see and most people will understand the motive of the telcos.
