Airtel brings back Rs 299 entry plan following rise in subscriber churn

New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) Bharti Airtel has restored the Rs 299 entry level plan with reduced data benefit following increase in subscriber churn from its network.

     The app and website of Airtel has started displaying an option of Rs 299 plan recharge that will remain valid for 28 days and offer 1 GB data per day instead of the 1.5 GB earlier.

     According to analysts, Bharti Airtel net subscriber addition declined in the September quarter mainly on account of the company's strategy to move towards premium plans.

     "Net subscriber adds, however, declined QoQ from 3.3 million to 0.7 million on account of higher churn (up from 2.6 per cent to 2.9 per cent), likely on account of the plan rationalisation step taken in Aug'26 which involved discontinuation of the Rs 299 entry-level prepaid smartphone plan," Citi Research said in a report.

     JM Financial in a report also attributed the churn to removal of the entry-level plan as the market leader and Vodafone Idea continued to offer plans priced at Rs 299.

     The company had withdrawn five prepaid plans -- Rs 299, Rs 319, Rs 579, Rs 619 and Rs 649 -- leaving subscribers of the popular Rs 299 plan with pricier options to choose from.

     All the plans stopped by the company offer 1.5 GB data usage per day with unlimited calling option.

     Subscribers of the popular Rs 299 plan had the option to move to Rs 349 pack, translating into a price rise of about 16 per cent.

     A query to Airtel on the restoration of the recharge plan elicited no response.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)