Leading telcos hike mobile internet rates by up to 100%

Telecom operators raised mobile internet rates by up to 100 per cent in June-September period across country.

Airtel is the latest to increase mobile rates, by up to 33 per cent. Vodafone and Idea have started gradually implementing a increased mobile internet rates from June.

The three companies jointly hold around 57 per cent mobile services market share.

While no comments were received from Airtel and Idea Cellular, Vodafone India spokesperson said, “Around two months ago, we changed the base tariff of 2G for 1GB pack from Rs 155 to Rs 175. This has been carried out in a phased manner across circles.”

Airtel and Idea too have increased the rate of 1GB 2G mobile internet pack to around Rs 175 from about Rs 155 GB.

Telecom operators generally don’t  publicise increase in mobile rates. The change is noticed on their website after the new rates are implemented.

They generally inform their post paid customer through SMS about change in rates of services before their next billing cycle.

Pre-paid customers, which constitutes over 90 per cent of market, get to know about rate revision when they go to recharge their mobile phone or through website.

Telecom operators are required to report change in tariff to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

Vodafone and Idea Cellular increased the rack rate, charged without any offer or scheme, by up to 100 per cent from two paise per 10 kb of data usage to four paise per 10 kb.

This means on Vodafone and Idea network 1 GB of 2G or 3G mobile internet will cost over Rs 4,000 (from Rs 2,000) which these companies under scheme are selling for around Rs 175.

Airtel started increasing mobile internet rates around the first week of September. The company is now on a par with Vodafone and Idea in terms of rack rate, which is four paise per 10 kb. However, the increase is only 33 per cent because the company was already charging three paise per 10 kb earlier.

The 2G data pack rate of Airtel is highest among the three at 10 paise per 10 kb, which means the cost of 1GB mobile internet usage without any scheme or offer for a subscriber is over Rs 10,000 which company is now selling for Rs 176.