Trouble will increase for mobile users, Airtel chief said, considering increasing rates of tariff plans

Barcelona: Bharti Airtel is considering increasing the rates of mobile services in all its plans this year. Telecom company's chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal gave this information here. Last month the company increased the price of its entry-level plan of minimum recharge or 28 days (about 4 weeks) mobile phone service plan by about 57 percent to Rs 155. This increase was done in eight circles. Responding to a question from PTI, he said the return on capital in the telecom business is very low and a rate hike is expected this year. He was asked that when the company's books are in better condition, then how much is the need to increase the rates.

"It (rate hike) will be everywhere," Mittal said at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) here on Monday, adding that the company has invested a lot of capital. This is strengthening the balance sheets, but the return on capital in the industry is very low. He said, "It needs to change. We are talking about a small increase, which is necessary for India. I hope it happens this year." Asked about the impact of the price hike on the lower-income group, Mittal said the hike in mobile rates is much less than the increase in spending on other things.

(ASHNA )