Airtel slashes broadband rates

BANGALORE: Indian telecom services provider Bharti Airtel, announced on Tuesday that it has reduced broadband prices.

Airtel is offering 1 Mbps speed at Rs. 1699 and 512 Kbps speed at Rs. 1099, said a press release.

The subscribers would also have access to free VAS bundle for Rs.500 per month wherein services such as Games on Demand, Anti-Virus software PC Secure, Airtel Speed on Demand and Online Desktop would be offered.

This bundle would include gaming on Games on Demand, Anti-Virus software PC Secure, Airtel Speed on Demand, and Online Desktop.

The Airtel customers could use two new plans.

The first plan is named 'Freedom 1699 for 1 Mbps' where one can experience 1 Mbps broadband speed at Rs. 1699 per month with additional free VAS worth Rs. 500 every month – Unlimited gaming on Games on Demand, Anti-Virus software PC Secure, Airtel Speed on Demand and Online Desktop.

Titled 'Swift 1099 for 512 Kbps', the second plan offers a speed of 512 Kbps for Rs.1099 per month, with Free Call Value worth Rs. 100 per month.

"With this latest announcement, Airtel also adds to its rich broadband service portfolio that now includes high-speed and reliable wired broadband at 16 Mbps and cutting-edge products like the low-cost online computer - Net PC, " said, K Srinivas, joint president- Telemedia Services, Bharti Airtel.

With the Airtel announcement, broadband is set to get even cheaper in India as government owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL ) are also planning to lower the price, but in fact lower than what Airtel has announced, media reports say.

Kuldeep Singh, MTNL director – technical said that they are ready to re-work on their tariff rates and with a lower option, “We are always more competitive than our competitors.”, he was quoted as saying. Both may soon make the announcement in this regard.

"As the growth in broadband subscribers in India has failed to meet expectations over the past few years, the move by Airtel to lower its broadband tariffs can be seen in the light of overall industry efforts to grow the market", stated Naveen Mishra, lead analyst, Mobile Handsets and Telecom Services Practice, IDC India.