Airtel Pulls Plug on Rs. 249 Prepaid Plan: What It Means for Users

Telecom giant Bharti Airtel has officially discontinued its Rs. 249 prepaid recharge plan, a popular option among customers looking for affordable data with short-term validity. The plan, which offered 1GB daily data, unlimited calls, and 100 SMS per day with a validity of 24 days, will no longer be available for recharge. The move comes as part of Airtel’s ongoing tariff restructuring aimed at improving its average revenue per user (ARPU) and streamlining plan offerings.

What Did the Rs. 249 Plan Offer?

Before being withdrawn, the Rs. 249 prepaid plan was considered one of the most convenient options for light-to-moderate data users. Its key features included:

• 1GB high-speed data per day (total of 24GB for the entire cycle)
• Unlimited voice calling across all networks
• 100 SMS per day
• Validity of 24 days

The plan also came bundled with Airtel Thanks benefits, including free access to Wynk Music, Apollo 24|7 Circle, and Airtel Xstream app. For customers who didn’t want to commit to a full-month recharge, it was an affordable and flexible choice.

Why Has Airtel Discontinued It?

Telecom industry experts suggest several reasons behind this move:

1. Revenue Focus: Airtel has been steadily phasing out lower-value recharge plans to encourage users to shift towards higher-priced options. The company has already hiked tariffs in select circles and is looking to boost profitability.
2. Plan Rationalization: Telecom operators often streamline their prepaid portfolios to avoid confusion among customers. Removing overlapping or less profitable packs allows them to promote a more uniform set of plans.
3. ARPU Growth Strategy: Airtel’s long-term strategy revolves around increasing ARPU, which has been hovering around Rs. 208–210 in recent quarters. Discontinuing short-validity, low-priced plans is expected to nudge users towards monthly or quarterly packs.

What Are the Alternatives Now?

With the Rs. 249 plan gone, users who relied on it will need to explore alternative recharge packs. Some options include:

• Rs. 265 Plan – Offers 1GB/day for 28 days, unlimited calls, and SMS benefits.
• Rs. 296 Plan – Provides 25GB of lump-sum data with 30 days’ validity, unlimited calls, and SMS.
• Rs. 299 Plan – Comes with 1.5GB/day, 28 days validity, unlimited calling, and additional Airtel Thanks perks.

For those who specifically preferred the shorter 24-day validity, Airtel seems to be pushing customers towards more standard 28-day cycles, effectively standardizing recharge durations.

Impact on Users

While the discontinuation may disappoint budget-conscious customers, especially students and light internet users, industry observers believe this is part of a larger trend across telecom operators. Both Airtel and Jio have been reducing the number of low-cost short-term plans, signaling a shift towards higher revenue models.

Users who were comfortable with 1GB/day over a 24-day cycle will now have to spend extra—likely opting for the Rs. 265 or Rs. 299 plans, which cost more but also provide extended validity.

The Bigger Picture: Telecom Sector Dynamics

India’s telecom sector is currently undergoing a phase of tariff adjustments. Rising operational costs, 5G rollout expenses, and the need to maintain financial health are pushing operators to prioritize profitability over volume. Airtel’s move to drop the Rs. 249 pack is aligned with this industry-wide push.

Analysts expect that similar rationalizations may follow in the coming months, with both Airtel and Jio focusing on monthly recharge uniformity instead of scattered validity packs.

Conclusion

The discontinuation of the Rs. 249 prepaid plan marks yet another shift in Airtel’s strategy to drive higher revenue per user. While it may pinch the pockets of light data consumers, the telecom operator seems determined to streamline its offerings and push subscribers towards longer-duration and higher-value recharges.

For users, the change underscores an important reality: in the battle for revenue growth, affordable short-term packs are increasingly becoming a thing of the past.