Airtel introduced Smartbytes Additional Data Usage Packs for Post-paid Mobile Customers on 3G

India’s largest mobile phone company, Bharti Airtel on 17 May 2012 slashed 3G data plan rates by up to 70%.  Volume based browsing rate on 3G were reduced from 10 paisa per 10kb to 3 paisa per 10kb. The new rates were made applicable for 3G non-pack users with effect from 17 May 2012.

The new data plan for pre-paid customers is to start at Rs.10 for 30 minutes of usage over a one-day validity, Rs.45 for 150 MB data valid for 7 days and continue till Rs.1,500 for 10 GB data valid for 30 days. The plans for the post-paid customers is to start at Rs.100 with a 300 MB data and 30 days validity, and is to extend till Rs.1,500 for 10 GB data valid for 30 days.

Airtel introduced Smartbytes additional data usage packs for its post-paid mobile customers on 3G. Airtel became the first in the market to offer customers with the choice of subscribing to incremental 3G data usage packs.

Airtel’s decision to slash prices for data services such as video calls and internet on mobile phones is likely to set off war in the 3G space between the telecom players.

Bharti Airtel had won 3G spectrum in 13 out of the 22 telecom circles in a government-led auction in 2010 for over Rs.12000 crore.