- By Alex David
- Sat, 02 Aug 2025 11:54 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Airtel has introduced a new prepaid scheme of ₹399 aimed at users seeking more data at a lower price. With the new update, users can now avail fourteen gigabytes of data, which is an increase of 14 GB over the previous ₹398 scheme. In addition, the plan also offers unlimited calling, a daily data cap, and complimentary 5G access, making this one of the best deals in its category. With this move, Airtel is undoubtedly focusing on data-heavy users and is looking to increase its subscriber base in all regions of India's telecom circles. Let’s evaluate the new offering in detail and compare it to the previous one.
Airtel ₹399 Recharge Plan: What You Get
The benefits of the updated Airtel ₹399 prepaid plan with the previously offered daily benefits of ₹2.5 GB of data and a 28-day validity remain the same. In addition to the data and voice benefits, there are other features included as well:
Feature | Benefit |
Voice Calls | Unlimited (local + STD) |
Data | 2.5GB/day (total: 70GB) |
SMS | 100 SMS/day |
5G Access | Unlimited |
Roaming | Free (except Jammu & Kashmir) |
OTT Benefit | JioHotstar subscription for 28 days |
These additional benefits ensure that the users of the plan will enjoy greater flexibility while doing their daily chores.
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Why the ₹1 Upgrade Makes a Difference
The new plan supersedes the older ₹398 plan, which included the following benefits:
- 2GB data per day (total: 56GB/month)
- Unlimited calling and SMS
- Unlimited 5G access
- Free JioHotstar subscription
Under the new ₹399 plan, users need to pay only ₹1 more to receive 0.5GB more data per day, amounting to 14GB more high-speed data. For data-starved users, that is a 25% increase in monthly data at a minuscule additional fee.
Valid Across All Telecom Circles
Airtel has confirmed that the new ₹399 plan is available pan-India, applicable in all telecom circles. This includes metro and rural areas, as well as tier two cities. The only exception is the national roaming coverage, which is absent for Jammu and Kashmir under this plan.
This uniform approach to pricing and the consistent feature unlocks across different regions support Airtel’s plan of expanding and improving customer loyalty amid intensifying competition.
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Competitive Landscape: Where Airtel Stands
According to data released by TRAI, Airtel has experienced phenomenal expansion of its user base over recent months, adding millions of subscribers. Now with over 360 million customers under its care, this telecom giant remains an invaluable player within India's telecom industry. Rival Jio has also continued to sustain its growth momentum. Conversely, Vodafone Idea (Vi) and BSNL have experienced a worrying decline in subscribers.
- BSNL lost over 1.35 lakh users
- Vi saw a decline of 2.74 lakh users
This shift demonstrates that users are transitioning toward Airtel and Jio, which offer more reliable network coverage, wider 5G support, and more cost-effective prepaid packages.
Final Thoughts
Airtel’s new recharge plan of ₹399 is a strategic offering which, with the addition of unlimited 5G, raises its value to users seeking cost efficiency and value, especially with data capped at 2.5 GB per day on a prepaid plan. The OTT-enabled 5G data makes the offering a balanced package for productivity and leisure. As Airtel works to improve its network and expand its subscriber base, competitors, especially Vi and BSNL, will struggle to maintain their dwindling subscriber base.