Telecom Firms Hike Mobile Internet Rates by up to 100% in June-September

New Delhi: Telecom operators increased mobile internet rates by up to 100 per cent during June-September 2014 across the country.

Airtel is latest to increase mobile rates by up to 33 per cent while Vodafone and Idea have started gradually implementing the hiked mobile internet rates from June.

The three companies jointly hold around 57 per cent of the mobile services market share.

While no comments were received from Airtel and Idea Cellular, Vodafone India spokesperson said, "Around 2 months ago, we changed the base tariff of 2G for 1GB pack from Rs 155 to Rs 175. This has been carried out in a phased manner across circles."

Airtel and Idea too have increased the rate of 1GB 2G mobile internet pack to around Rs 175 from about Rs 155 GB.

Telecom operators generally don't make public announcement about increase in mobile tariff. The change is noticed on their website after the new rates are implemented. They usually inform their post-paid customers through SMS about change in rates of services before their next billing cycle starts.

Pre-paid customers, which constitute over 90 per cent of market, get to know about rate revision when they go to recharge their mobile phone or through website of companies.

Telecom operators are required to report change in tariff to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Vodafone and Idea Cellular increased rack rate, which is charged without any offer or scheme, by up to 100 per cent from 2 paise per 10 kb of data usage to 4 paise per 10 kb.

This means on Vodafone and Idea network 1 GB of 2G or 3G mobile internet will cost over Rs 4,000 (from Rs 2,000) which these companies under scheme are selling for around Rs 175.

Airtel started increasing mobile internet rates around first week of September. The company is now at par with Vodafone and Idea in terms of rack rate which is 4 paise per 10 kb. However, the increase is only of 33 per cent because the company was already charging 3 paise per 10 kb earlier.

The 2G data pack rate of Airtel is highest among the three at 10 paise per 10 kb which means cost of 1GB mobile internet usage without any scheme or offer for a subscriber is over Rs 10,000 which company is now selling for Rs 176.