Airtel slashes 3G data tariff by 70 percent

New Delhi -  Telecom service provider Bharti Airtel Thursday slashed 3G data tariff by up to 70 percent in order to drive demand.

"Volume based browsing rate on 3G down from 10 paisa per 10kb to 3 paisa per 10kb. This will be applicable for 3G non-pack users with effect from May 17, 2012," the company said in a  statement.

The company had won 3G spectrum in 13 out of the 22 telecom circles in a government-led auction in 2010 for over Rs.12,000 crore. The services which were launched across the country  last year have failed to pick up so far due to high prices.

The company statement said that the new data plan for pre-paid customers would start at Rs.10 for 30 minutes of usage over a one-day validity, Rs.45 for 150 MB data valid for 7 days and will  go till Rs.1,500 for 10 GB data valid for 30 days.

For post-paid customers, the plans starts at Rs.100 with a 300 MB data and 30 days validity, and goes till Rs.1,500 for 10 GB data valid for 30 days.

Airtel has also introduced Smartbytes additional data usage packs for its post-paid mobile customers on 3G, thus becoming the first in the market to offer customers with the choice of  subscribing to incremental 3G data usage packs.

The Smartbytes additional data usage packs are available in a range of predetermined price options that allow Airtel 3G customers to choose a plan that suits their needs, while avoiding any bill shocks, the statement said.