Bharti Airtel slips over 1% on plan to slash 4G data charges

NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel Ltd slipped over 1 per cent in a weak market on Monday, after the telecom major said it will slash 4G data charges by 31 per cent today.

At 09:30 a.m.; Bharti Airtel was trading 1.1 per cent lower at Rs 289.01. It hit a low of Rs 288.25 and a high of Rs 290.00 in trade today.

In an aggressive bid, Bharti Airtel is trying to boost mass appetite for fourth-generation wireless broadband services and also make life more difficult for future challengers.

The move comes barely a week after Bharti Airtel cut 2G data charges by 90 per cent to shore up data usage and spur revenue streams.

Bharti Airtel is expected to lower its base 4G data plan from Rs 650 to Rs 450 to offer more value to customers in Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune and Chandigarh where it runs 4G wireless broadband services.

“Skeptics, however, wonder if the move to offer 4G services at 3G rates will actually translate into higher data usage or help expand its modest 4G subscriber base,” ET reported.