JOIN USAfter slashing 2G data charges by 90 per cent, Airtel plans to provide 4G LTE services in four circles of Bangalore, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Pune for the price of 3G, a source familiar with the development told Deccan Herald.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said that starting Monday June 24, 2013, Airtel would provide its customers 2 GB, 3 GB and 4 GB data over 4G LTE for Rs 450, Rs 650 and Rs 750 respectively. At present Airtel charges Rs 450 for 2 GB of 3G data.
“These plans are targeted not only at increasing number of 4G LTE customers but also in providing plans that are more flexible,” the source added.
As a part of this initiative, the company is not only introducing new and cheaper plans, but is also going to slash the price of its 4G LTE dongle by Rs 1,000 and would now be available for Rs 1,500.
LTE (long-term evolution) is expected to drive the future of data in India as according to experts, owing to its higher spectrum efficiency it is possible to push much more data in every megahertz of 4G spectrum; with spectrum being a costly resource, this seems a viable option.
At present, Airtel offers two kinds of 4G devices, the 4G dongle for laptops and the 4G CPE router for home WiFi solution wherein multiple devices , including 3G smartphones and 3G tablets, can access Internet at 4G speed.
Though right now, Airtel is the only provider of 4G services, the competition is expected to heat up when Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJI) rolls out their 4G services by early 2014.
In April this year, Mukesh Ambani-backed RJI inked a $2.16 billion agreement with brother Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communications (RCom) to use its fiber optic network for 4G services.
The Airtel 4G LTE CPE router which was earlier priced at Rs 5,000 and would now cost Rs 4000, the source said.
When contacted, an Airtel spokesperson in Bangalore confirmed the development.