Bharti Airtel restored its popular 28-day ₹299 prepaid plan on November 10, 2026, on the Airtel Thanks app and its website, walking back an August change that had pushed subscribers toward higher-priced options.
Why Airtel Brought Back the ₹299 Plan
The company had discontinued the ₹299 plan back in August to steer customers toward a ₹349 tariff that offered 2GB of daily data. That maneuver triggered an exodus of subscribers who jumped ship to competing telecom providers. To halt the subscriber bleed without slashing headline rates entirely, the company brought back the lower-priced recharge.
Shaswat Sharma noted that while the carrier took a hit to new subscriber additions following the August cancellation, its average revenue per user climbed from ₹264 to ₹271 in September, driven by gains in its postpaid segment and broader market upgrades.
Data Reductions and 5G Restrictions
The revived tier brings a catch for data users. While the original offering included 1.5GB of daily data, the reinstated plan drops that allocation to 1GB per day alongside unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS messages daily, maintaining a 28-day validity period.
Subscribers eyeing high-speed connectivity will find further limits. Airtel restricts its unlimited 5G offer strictly to recharges providing 2GB or more of daily data, leaving users on the ₹299 plan to browse on limited 5G speeds where coverage permits.
Some telecom circles list an additional Adobe Express Premium subscription with the package, though extra benefits vary by region. Feature phone users or those prioritizing basic voice services can also examine thirty-day voice-only recharges compliant with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India guidelines.
How Airtel Compares Against Jio and Vi
Among major operators offering similar price points, Reliance Jio provides more data for the exact same outlay, according to market comparisons.
| Provider | Validity | Daily Data | Calls & SMS | 5G Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance Jio | 28 Days | 1.5 GB | Unlimited + 100 SMS/day | Unlimited 5G Included |
| Airtel | 28 Days | 1 GB | Unlimited + 100 SMS/day | Limited 5G Only |
| Vodafone Idea (Vi) | 28 Days | 1 GB | Unlimited + 100 SMS/day | Not Applicable |
Jio’s ₹299 plan grants 1.5GB daily data with unlimited 5G, whereas Vodafone Idea matches Airtel’s 1GB daily allotment at the ₹299 mark, requiring subscribers to pay ₹349 for 1.5GB.
