Airtel postpaid plans hiked by up to 10% from October 8, free roaming added
Synopsis
Airtel has raised postpaid tariffs by up to 10% effective 8 October, while sweetening the deal with a free annual international roaming trip per SIM — a 5GB, 60-minute, 5-day pack. The five-SIM family plan at ₹1,799 also bundles Netflix Standard, raising the stakes for Jio and Vi to respond.
Key Takeaways
Bharti Airtel raised postpaid tariffs by 3–10 per cent , effective 8 October 2026 .
Plans now range from ₹499 (individual) to ₹1,799 (five-SIM family with Netflix Standard).
Every plan includes one free international roaming trip per SIM per year — 5GB data, 60 minutes of calls, 25 outgoing SMS , valid for 5 days .
All plans include unlimited domestic data, calling, and spam/fraud protection with 5G Fast Lane access.
Existing prepaid and older postpaid customers can upgrade to the new plans immediately.
Bharti Airtel on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, unveiled revised postpaid plans with tariff increases of 3–10 per cent, effective Thursday, 8 October. The new plans range from ₹499 per month for a single connection to ₹1,799 per month for a family plan covering up to five SIMs, and come bundled with a complimentary international roaming benefit — a first for the telco's postpaid portfolio.
New Plan Pricing at a Glance
The revised pricing represents a clear step-up across every tier. The entry-level individual plan moves from ₹449 to ₹499. The two-SIM family plan rises from ₹699 to ₹749, while the three-SIM option climbs from the previous rate to ₹1,049. For four SIMs, customers will pay ₹1,249 or ₹1,449 depending on the variant, and the premium five-SIM plan — which includes a Netflix Standard subscription — is priced at ₹1,799.
What the Free International Roaming Pack Includes
Each of the new plans includes one complimentary international roaming trip per SIM per year. The roaming pack provides 5GB of data, 60 minutes of outgoing calls, 25 outgoing SMS, and free incoming SMS, all valid for 5 days. Unlimited domestic data and calling are also part of the bundle, along with Airtel's proprietary spam and fraud prevention features and Fast Lane technology on 5G.
What Airtel Said
Amit Tripathi, Director – Market Operations at Bharti Airtel, framed the revision as a value upgrade rather than a price hike. 'We have the best network experience in the country, on which we offer our postpaid customers Fast Lane technology on 5G, and constant Spam and frauds protection. What is more, we offer the customers the best value – through access to entertainment and services that enrich their everyday lives; and now Free International Roaming for them. We are determined to constantly raising the game for customers and give them more and more reasons to choose Airtel Postpaid,' Tripathi said in an exchange filing.
Who Is Affected and What Happens Next
The revised plans are available to all new postpaid subscribers from 8 October. Existing Airtel customers — whether on older postpaid plans or currently on prepaid — can upgrade to the new tariff structure. This is the latest in a series of telco price revisions across the Indian market, coming after Airtel and its peers raised prepaid tariffs earlier in the year. Analysts have broadly expected postpaid rationalisations to follow, and Airtel's move is likely to test whether rival operators Reliance Jio and Vi (Vodafone Idea) follow suit in the near term.
Point of View
But postpaid ARPU uplift compounds quickly given Airtel's premium base. The real question is whether Jio, which has been more aggressive on pricing and has a larger overall subscriber base, will match this or use it as an opening to poach Airtel's price-sensitive postpaid users. For Vi, the pressure is existential: any Airtel price increase gives it a window to hold customers, but only if it can credibly match the network quality that underpins Airtel's value pitch.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Airtel's new postpaid plan prices from October 8?
Airtel's revised postpaid plans start at ₹499 per month for an individual connection and go up to ₹1,799 for a five-SIM family plan that includes Netflix Standard. Other tiers are ₹749 for two SIMs, ₹1,049 for three SIMs, and ₹1,249 or ₹1,449 for four SIMs.
How much has Airtel hiked postpaid tariffs?
Airtel has increased postpaid plan prices by approximately 3–10 per cent depending on the plan tier, effective 8 October 2026. For example, the individual plan rose from ₹449 to ₹499, and the two-SIM family plan from ₹699 to ₹749.
What is included in Airtel's free international roaming benefit?
Each new postpaid plan includes one complimentary international roaming trip per SIM per year. The pack covers 5GB of data, 60 minutes of outgoing calls, 25 outgoing SMS, and free incoming SMS, valid for 5 days.
Can existing Airtel prepaid or old postpaid customers switch to the new plans?
Yes. Existing Airtel customers on older postpaid plans or on prepaid can upgrade to the new postpaid plans starting 8 October 2026, according to the company.
Which postpaid plan includes Netflix on Airtel?
The top-tier five-SIM family plan priced at ₹1,799 per month includes a Netflix Standard subscription, along with unlimited data, calling, and the free international roaming benefit.
