Airtel Rs 199 Plan: The recent move of Airtel has left many users surprised, especially those who relied heavily on low-cost voice recharges. The change occurred silently, without any major announcement, but soon the topic started trending among prepaid customers all over India. Many users who preferred simple calling packs are now checking what this switch means for their monthly spending. Here’s a simple breakdown of how this small change impacts users in a big way.
Airtel Removes Rs 189 Plan
Airtel has withdrawn its Rs 189 voice-only pack, a widely used plan by those making calls predominantly. It was popular among senior citizens, rural users, and those using a second SIM without data needs. The removal of it automatically means prepaid subscribers need to choose a costlier option when they require only the calling service.
Airtel Rs 199 Plan Becomes Minimum Recharge
The minimum recharge of Airtel now starts from Rs 199. This new base pack adds data and extra services, which are useful for regular smartphone users but have little meaning for people who prefer a simple calling option. Many users oriented towards the budget now face a higher monthly bill. This has created frustration among low-income and rural customers.
What Rs 199 Plan Offers
For Rs 199, subscribers get unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS per day, and 2GB data for 28 days. After 2GB, data continues at 50p per MB. Freebies like free Hello Tunes and a full-year Perplexity Pro AI subscription sound nice and all, but they’re of no real benefit to a subscriber who only needs affordable calling support. This move, therefore, pushes customers toward data-based plans willy-nilly.
Impact on Voice-Only Users
Users who depended on inexpensive voice-only packs now have fewer options. The rural and senior customers who avoid data-intensive services face increased costs. This is going to hurt more in those areas where people mainly use smartphones for calling and basic communication purposes. For example, those people who had been using the Rs 189 pack for a long time felt they were paying for things they would never use.
Why Airtel Made This Change
Experts have meanwhile said Airtel is emerging in favour of a ‘data-first approach’. The Indian telecom market is gradually shifting away from pure calling packs. With growing digital services and increasing smartphone usage, telcos are replacing recharge options to fit in with the new consumption habits. The move is aimed at increasing average revenue; it, however, widens the gap for users who still require affordable calling support.
Conclusion
The quiet axing of its Rs 189 plan is another push towards data-driven recharges from Airtel. While Rs 199 brings extra benefits for many users, it also creates hurdles for people looking at simple and affordable calling options. This merely shows how India’s telecom plans will keep moving towards digital-first usage, leaving very limited choices for mere voice customers.