Challenging Jio? Airtel will give 3 months of unlimited data for Rs 1,494

Bharti Airtel Ltd, India’s biggest mobile phone carrier, will offer its prepaid customers three months of unlimited data for Rs 1,494 rupees ($22), escalating a price war after the entry of a new player.

Bharti Airtel Ltd, India’s biggest mobile phone carrier, will offer its prepaid customers three months of unlimited data for Rs 1,494 rupees ($22), escalating a price war after the entry of a new player.

A Bharti Airtel office building is pictured in Gurgaon. (Reuters Photo)

The company will offer up to 30 gigabytes of data at 4G speeds and then slower speeds thereafter.

Carriers such as Bharti and Vodafone India are reducing prices after Reliance Jio Infocomm, a 4G telecoms venture backed by India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, launched commercial operations this month, offering all services free until the end of the year.

Currently, one gigabyte of 4G data valid for about a month is priced at about 250 rupees or more. Most Indian cellphone users are prepaid, or without a monthly contract with their carrier.