Airtel slashes data usage rates by 90% in Punjab, Haryana

Vodafone had yesterday reduced the prices of its 2G services by about 80%

Triggering competition, Bharti Airtel today slashed data usage charges by 90% for pre-paid subscribers in Punjab and Haryana, a day after Vodafone lowered data charges by 80% for its pre-paid and post-paid customers in three circles.

Airtel said that the Volume Based Charges (VBC) on its recharge vouchers for 2G data usage of three denominations have been reduced to 1 paisa per 10 KB from 10 paisa per 10 KB making internet usage affordable for its subscribers.

The recharge vouchers of Rs 22, Rs 25 and Rs 125 carry a free download limit of 125 MB for five days, 150 MB for seven days and 1 GB for 28 days.

After the free download, the customers were presently charged at 10 paisa per 10 KB which have been reduced to 1 paisa per 10 KB with immediate effect, Airtel said in its release.

The release said that the validity of the Rs 22 and Rs 25 recharge vouchers has been increased to 30 days and that of Rs 125 recharge vouchers increased to 90 days.

"Looking at the increasing number of mobile internet users in both urban and rural areas, the reduction in rates is further going to boost the usage of mobile internet," the release said adding the benefit, however, would be available only to prepaid customers.

Vodafone had yesterday reduced the price from 10 paisa per 10 KB to 2 paisa per 10KB for Karnataka, UP West and Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh circles for both pre-paid and post-paid customers using the 2G network.

"These rates are currently applicable in Karnataka, UP West and Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh circles and will be rolled out nationally in a phased manner," Vodafone had said.