Bharti Airtel has brought back its popular Rs 299 pre-paid Recharge Plan after noticing increased churn of subscribers by removing it previously.

The Rs 299 Recharge Plan has been brought back to Airtel website and app with some changes to the benefits. This will allow customers to get a cheap top-up option.

Airtel Rs 299 Recharge Plan Benefits

This brings back the Airtel Rs 299 pre-paid plan with 1GB of high speed internet data, unlimited calling and 100 SMS. It is valid for 28 days.

However, compared to previously this plan only gives 1GB of data a day compared to 1.5GB of data and unlimited 5G. If you need extra data you may need to buy data top up packs.

Why Has Airtel Brought Back the Rs 299 Plan?

• Airtel removed its entry level Rs 299 pre-paid Recharge Plan in August 2026. This forced customers wanting a daily data plan to upgrade to the Rs 349 Recharge Plan.
• However, this appears to have impacted customer retention. Airtel only gained 716,000 new mobile subscribers in the September quarter compared to 3.3 million in the last quarter.
• The company also saw an increase in monthly churn rising to 2.9% from 2.6%. Analysts said this was partly due to the removal of cheap pre-paid top ups.

Airtel Competes with Jio and Vodafone Idea

The Indian telecom sector is very competitive with Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea offering cheap top up options.

This may have prompted Airtel to bring back their Rs 299 plan. By bringing back an entry level top up they can ensure they retain their customers while still pushing their premiumisation strategy.

Airtel Still Performing Well with ARPU

Despite fewer customers joining the network, Airtel has seen their average revenue per user increase. Their ARPU rose to Rs 271 in the September quarter, up from Rs 264.

The company is also targeting premium top ups, post paid connections, international roaming and extra services to boost revenue from existing customers.

What Does This Mean for Airtel Customers?

With the Rs 299 top up being brought back customers will have another cheap option to choose from with unlimited calling and data. However, it is important to note this plan only provides 1GB of data compared to 1.5GB.

This shows how telecom providers are finding the right balance between top up prices, data and retaining customers in the competitive Indian mobile market. Airtel’s choice may also prompt other telecom companies to think about offering cheap pre-paid plans going forward.