Even as Mukesh Ambani controlled Reliance Jio InfoCom is fastracking the launch of 4G services, Bharti Airtel cut its base plan rates by 31 per cent. Airtel's 4G data plans now starts from Rs 450, down 31 per cent from Rs 650 earlier in Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune and Chandigarh circles.
The company recently reduced 2G data tariffs by 90 per cent in Punjab and Haryana and is trying to boost up data usage and increase adoption for its 4G service for improving revenues. "Starting from monthly rent ofRs 450, these new Airtel 4G plans will encourage more and more customers to enjoy superfast 4G speeds - now delivered at even greater value," the company said in a statement.
Airtel is offering 2GB, 3GB and 4GB free data usage for plans of Rs 450, Rs 650 and Rs 750. Airtel had won spectrum for high-speed broadband service in four telecom services areas of Kolkata, Maharashtra, Punjab and Karnataka in 2010, paying Rs 3,314.36 crore for it.
In the same auction, Reliance Jio Infocomm (then Infotel Broadband Services) won 20 Mhz slot for pan-India BWA spectrum for Rs 12,847.71 crore.