Vi hikes family postpaid tariffs

Hikes of 7-9% likely; focus on higher-end plans

- URVI MALVANIA

VODAFONE IDEA HAS raised tariffs on some of its family postpaid plans by about 7-9%, marking one of the first visible price actions by a telecom operator ahead of an anticipated sector-wide hike later this year.

The increases, implemented in December, make these plans more expensive than comparable offerings from Bharti Airtel on a per-GB basis, according to a Morgan Stanley report.

The move comes at a time when operators have largely deferred headline tariff increases, choosing instead to fine-tune pricing within specific segments. Analysts said the changes reflect an attempt to protect average revenue per user (Arpu) growth without triggering a broader competitive response. For Vodafone Idea, which has been steadily losing subscribers, the need to shore up revenues has become more acute.