Telecom operators, AirTel, Vodafone and Idea which jointly constitute around 57 per cent mobile services market share have hiked the mobile internet tariffs up to 100 per cent in June-September across country.

Telecom operators generally don't publicly announce about increase in mobile tariff but they update the change in their website after the new rates are implemented. However, post paid customer will be informed through SMS about change in rates before their next billing cycle starts. TRAI should be informed well before hiking the tariffs but, Telecom operators are yet to update this to the telecom regulator.

Vodafone and Idea Cellular increased the mobile internet tariff from 2 paise per 10 kb of data usage to 4 paise per 10 kb. Whereas AirTel hiked this tariff from September first week. AirTel has already been charging 3 paise per 10 kb and so its hike is just marginal by 33 per cent. The 2G data pack rate of Airtel is highest among the three at 10 paise per 10 kb which means cost of 1GB mobile internet usage without any scheme or offer for a subscriber is over Rs 10,000 which company is now selling for Rs 176.

(AW: Vamshi)