Mobile recharge tariffs likely to rise by up to 20% by December

New Delhi: Millions of mobile users in India may soon have to spend more on their recharge plans. According to reports, leading telecom operators — Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) — are preparing for another round of tariff hikes by the end of 2025.

The prepaid and postpaid plan rates are expected to increase by 10 to 20 percent, possibly around November or December. This would mark the fourth hike in mobile tariffs in the last six years. The previous increase took place in July 2024, when companies raised prices by up to 25 percent.

The hike is reportedly being driven by rising operational costs, the ongoing expansion of 5G networks, and the need to sustain profitability. Telecom operators are investing heavily in network infrastructure, spectrum acquisition, and paying regulatory dues.

Vodafone Idea, which has been under financial pressure, recently received government approval to convert spectrum dues worth Rs 36,950 crore into equity. This move has taken the government’s stake in the company to nearly 49 percent.

Analysts suggest that tariff hikes are necessary for the financial health of telecom companies, especially as they gear up to meet growing data demands and infrastructure requirements.