Is Airtel’s ‘Unlimited’ 5G really unlimited? What we found about its hotspot clause
Airtel's 'Unlimited' 5G plan has a clause that restricts hotspot sharing, sparking controversy. The clause is present on Airtel's website, but its enforcement and removal are unclear. TRAI has not issued any guidelines on what 'unlimited' means.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Airtel's 'Unlimited' 5G plan has a clause that restricts hotspot sharing, sparking controversy. The clause is present on Airtel's website, but its enforcement and removal are unclear.
Airtel's 'Unlimited' 5G plan has a clause that stops customers from sharing their data over a mobile hotspot. This has sparked controversy among customers who feel that the term 'unlimited' is being misused. It's like buying a ticket that says you can use the train as much as you want, but then finding out that you can't take your friends with you.
Analysis
What's the issue with Airtel's 'Unlimited' 5G plan?
Airtel's 'Unlimited' 5G plan has been at the center of controversy due to a clause that restricts hotspot sharing. The clause, which is present on Airtel's website, states that customers cannot share their data over a mobile hotspot. This has sparked outrage among customers who feel that the term 'unlimited' is being misused.
What does Airtel's postpaid terms say?
Airtel's postpaid terms state that the 'Unlimited' 5G plan is only meant for personal and non-commercial use. The terms also reserve the right to end or suspend the offer in cases of commercial use or fraudulent activity. The 300GB threshold is also mentioned, beyond which data usage is considered commercial.
Why does the 300GB cap exist?
The 300GB cap was introduced by Airtel after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) asked it to make the unlimited plan's terms clearer. TRAI dismissed a complaint against Airtel and Reliance Jio over alleged predatory pricing, but directed both operators to spell out their unlimited 5G terms.
How do Jio and Vi treat the same offer?
Among the three operators, only Airtel's terms have drawn reports of a hotspot bar. Jio offers unlimited 5G on prepaid plans of Rs 349 and above carrying 2GB per day, within Jio True 5G coverage, and permits hotspot sharing on the benefit. Vi treats 5G consumption above 300GB in 28 days as commercial usage, after which it may throttle speed to 64kbps. Its terms have no hotspot restriction.
Key points
- Airtel's 'Unlimited' 5G plan has a clause that restricts hotspot sharing.
- The clause is present on Airtel's website, but its enforcement and removal are unclear.
- TRAI has not issued any guidelines on what 'unlimited' means in the context of telecom services.
- Jio offers unlimited 5G on prepaid plans of Rs 349 and above carrying 2GB per day, within Jio True 5G coverage, and permits hotspot sharing on the benefit.
- Vi treats 5G consumption above 300GB in 28 days as commercial usage, after which it may throttle speed to 64kbps.
If Airtel removes the hotspot restriction and clarifies its terms, it could improve customer trust and satisfaction. This could also lead to increased adoption of its 'Unlimited' 5G plan.
If Airtel continues to enforce the hotspot restriction and does not clarify its terms, it could lead to a loss of customer trust and satisfaction. This could also result in a decrease in adoption of its 'Unlimited' 5G plan.
