- By Alex David
- Mon, 10 Nov 2025 01:01 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bharti Airtel recently made headlines by discontinuing its popular Rs 189 voice-only recharge plan, marking an important shift in their prepaid offerings. The move directly impacts users who primarily relied on voice services as opposed to data, such as senior citizens, rural customers and secondary SIM users.
The Rs 189 plan was a simple option that offered unlimited voice calls across all networks, making it ideal for those who didn’t rely on mobile data. With its removal, Airtel’s minimum recharge price now starts at Rs 199, effectively raising the base cost for all prepaid users.
Voice-Only Plan Removed: What It Means for Users
Customers who only require basic calling functionality will now have to spend more despite not needing data or digital extras, even though the difference may seem minor at first. Unfortunately, though this might only seem like a minor cost increase on paper – especially when managing multiple SIM cards on tight budgets or managing multiple SIMs at the same time.
The Rs 199 base plan now serves as Airtel’s entry-level recharge. It offers:
- Unlimited voice calls on all networks
- 100 SMS per day
- 2GB of data for 28 days
- Access to free Hello Tunes
- A 12-month subscription to Perplexity Pro AI
However, once users exceed the 2GB data limit, they are charged 50 paisa per MB.
Why Airtel Made the Move
According to industry analysts, this move is part of a broader trend in India’s telecom sector, where companies are phasing out voice-only plans in favour of data-centric packages.
As India experiences rapid smartphone adoption and internet usage, telecom providers have evolved their offerings to accommodate data-heavy usage patterns. More bundled packs that combine calls, data and digital services reflect how consumers increasingly rely on mobile internet.
Still, this transition leaves behind a segment of users who depend solely on basic calling. Experts note that for these users, especially in rural areas or among elderly customers, a simple and affordable voice-only plan was both practical and economical.
Impact on Budget Users
From a customer’s point of view, the change could be restrictive. Many users in smaller towns still use feature phones or low-end smartphones and do not require additional services like AI subscriptions or music features. For them, paying extra for unused benefits makes little sense.
While Airtel’s Rs 199 plan adds more features on paper, the core purpose of affordability is compromised for those who only need calling. This shift subtly increases the minimum cost of mobile connectivity in India, especially for those who don’t consume much data.
The Bigger Picture
Airtel's decision echoes an industry trend toward digital and AI-enhanced service bundles. Telecom operators are increasingly monetising customer data usage, pushing customers into higher-value plans that include content, cloud storage services and app partnerships.
However, this shift also highlights a widening digital divide – as telecom services evolve, they risk leaving behind users who simply seek affordable voice communication without frills and extra features.
Airtel's move to cancel its Rs 189 plan signifies an end to voice-only recharges and heralds the beginning of a data-first era, where even basic users must now pay for features they may never utilise.