Bharti Airtel offers free data to woo 4G users, deepens price war

The offer sparked concerns that intensifying competition will hit profits and margins in the sector

Bharti Airtel Ltd, India's top wireless carrier, said on Tuesday it would offer free data to woo new and existing 4G customers, intensifying a price war in the sector and sending share prices tumbling.

The package is Bharti's latest response to the entry last year of new operator Reliance Jio, backed by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, which shook India's telecom sector by offering free data services until March 31.

Bharti said it would offer three gigabytes of free 4G data per month until the end of the year for customers who switch to some of its plans from other carriers and to existing