Telecom companies are once again preparing to increase mobile tariffs by 10–12% by December 2025.
This time, the price hike will not be limited to base plans—it will also affect mid and high-end users, meaning more customers will feel the impact.
Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio are reportedly working on this plan as part of their strategy to boost revenue without losing subscribers.
More Users, Higher Confidence for Tariff Hike
In May 2025, the number of active mobile users for top telecom companies like Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea increased significantly—for the first time in 29 months:
74 lakh new active users were added
Total active users now stand at 1.08 crore
Earlier, between July and November 2024, there was a drop of 2.1 crore users
This recent growth has given telecom companies the confidence that users are now ready for higher prices, even after the previous hike.
Previous Hike in July 2024
In July 2024, telecom providers had already raised base plan tariffs by 11–23%. Despite this, customer numbers continued to grow—proving that demand remains strong.
Now, another price hike by 10–12% is expected, especially for those using mid-range and high-end plans, making this move heavier on premium users.
Jio and Airtel Market Stats
In May 2025:
Jio added 55 lakh active users
Airtel added 13 lakh active users
Jio’s market share rose to 53%
Airtel’s share stands at 36%
Despite being the second-largest smartphone market in the world, India still offers some of the lowest mobile tariffs globally.
In the past, Jio attracted users with ultra-low pricing, forcing other players to follow the same strategy to remain competitive.
Tiered Pricing May Also Be Introduced
Apart from higher tariffs, telecom companies are also exploring tier-based pricing models:
Same price, less data: Plans may offer reduced data for the same cost, nudging users to upgrade.
Time-based and speed-based plans: Companies may offer pricing based on data speed or usage time, allowing users to pick plans based on specific needs.
This would give consumers more flexibility while helping telecom providers increase average revenue per user (ARPU).
What This Means for Users
Prepare for higher mobile bills by year-end
Mid and premium users will likely be impacted more than low-end users
New plan structures could reduce data benefits, pushing users to spend more
Customizable plans may offer flexibility, but at a cost
