Telecom operators in India are currently in the process of simplifying their tariff lineup. Bharti Airtel is amongst them as the telco has now removed the Rs 799 prepaid recharge in all the 22 markets where it has operations. That said, the Rs 799 plan is not alone as the Sunil Mittal-led telco even removed the Rs 549 prepaid plan in 16 circles and some subscribers are even reporting the absence of Rs 349 plan in Maharashtra and Goa circle. As of now, it's unknown why Airtel made this change, but surely, it's because of the overlapping issue. For example, the Rs 549 prepaid recharge was overshadowed by the Rs 558 prepaid plan because it ships with better data benefit and longer validity.
Airtel Removes Rs 549 and Rs 799 Prepaid Recharges
To recall, Airtel’s Rs 549 prepaid recharge offered 3.5GB daily data benefit and the same plan previously offered 2.5GB data per day. The Rs 799 prepaid recharge, on the other hand, used to offer 4GB data per day benefit. Both the plans are valid for 28 days from the date of recharge. On the whole, with the Rs 549 prepaid plan, Airtel is providing a total of 98GB data, while the Rs 799 plan gives 112GB of 4G data. In contrast, Reliance Jio’s Rs 509 prepaid plan offers 112GB of 4G data, and the Rs 799 plan gives 140GB of 4G data. As stated, Vodafone is also offering the same Rs 549 and Rs 799 prepaid plans with 3.5GB, and 4.5GB data benefit on offer. Vodafone and Reliance Jio’s plans are also valid for 28 days. But Vodafone and Jio are still providing both the plans.
Alongside the data benefit, Airtel is also offering unlimited voice calls to any network across the country and 100 SMS per day for the validity period of 28 days. The same applies to the Jio’s and Vodafone’s tariff plans.
As noted, Airtel has removed the Rs 549 prepaid recharge in 16 telecom circles, except for Assam, Chennai, North East, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and UP West and Uttarakhand.
Airtel Pulls Rs 349 Prepaid Plan in Some Circles
While the Rs 549 and Rs 799 prepaid plans are being pulled in most of the circles, Airtel has pulled down the Rs 349 in Maharashtra and Goa telecom circle (according to the information we have right now). The Rs 349 prepaid plan, in other circles, is providing 3GB data per day along with unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS per day for 28 days.
Airtel Rs 549 Prepaid Recharge Overlapped With Rs 558 Prepaid Plan
Talking about the Rs 549 prepaid plan, it used to overlap with the company's Rs 558 prepaid plan. For the unaware, Airtel's offering an open market prepaid plan of Rs 558 with benefits of 3GB data per day, unlimited voice call and 100 SMS per day for 82 days. In contrast, the Rs 549 prepaid plan offered 3.5GB data per day, but it's valid only for 28 days from the date of recharge. This confused a lot of users in the past, but Airtel is finally pulling down the plan making it easier for consumers.
