In line with industry trend, AirTel has increased SMS tariffs for national and international messages to Rs 2 and Rs 5 respectively in Delhi, with effect from Monday.
Cellular operators have hiked domestic and international SMS rates on account of increased interconnect charges by the overseas operators and changes have already been effected in many circles in the country.
While AirTel hiked the SMS rates with effect from Monday, the other two private operators in Delhi had increased the rates in the last two months.
Idea had already increased its national and international SMS rates to Rs 2 and Rs 5 sometime in July. Earlier this month Hutch increased the rates for international SMS to Rs 5, although it is yet to revise the rates for national SMS.
According to industry sources the international SMS traffic accounts for merely two per cent of the total SMS traffic, national about ten per cent while the balance is local.