Airtel CEO Outlines Pricing, Postpaid and Satellite Strategy at IMC 2026
At India Mobile Congress 2026, Airtel MD and CEO Shashwat Sharma said entry-level and inclusive plans should stay at their current price points while heavier users pay more. Airtel expects ARPU to pass Rs 300 and wants postpaid customers to reach 20% over time, up from about 8% now. The company also raised postpaid prices by Rs 50 with international roaming benefits and expects satellite services to coexist with mobile and fiber networks.
At IMC 2026, Airtel MD and CEO Shashwat Sharma outlined a tariff approach where budget and inclusive options stay at existing prices, while heavier users pay more. The company expects ARPU to move beyond Rs 300; it reported Rs 264 in Q1FY27, ended June 30, 2026. Its long-term postpaid target is 20%, compared with roughly 8% now.
Airtel’s postpaid refresh raised prices by Rs 50 and added international roaming. It had removed the Rs 549 individual plan, leaving Rs 449 as the entry option and Rs 699 as the next tier. With about 346.5 million prepaid users, the company is seeking to shift some to postpaid. Satellite is expected to coexist with mobile and fiber, though rules and rollout details remain unsettled.
If Airtel holds entry plans steady while charging heavier users more, budget-sensitive users may see near-term relief, while data-intensive households and postpaid adopters could face higher bills. The push toward postpaid and satellite coexistence may broaden coverage options, but affordability and rural access could remain uneven. Regulatory clarity may shape whether satellite complements or complicates terrestrial networks.