Mobile phone data has become more expensive in India – Telco Financies tells; Explain the most successful expert

The best communications operators in India – reliance on Gearti Aartel, and Vodafone Idea (VI) – are expected to announce in another round of the high tariffs by November – December 2025, as part of the broader “tariff” strategy that aims to enhance revenues and Arpu (the average revenue per user).

Economic times have reported that brokerage projects are arpu levels to rise to 300 rupees by the 27th fiscal year, driven by increasing continuous tariffs, smartphone promotions, and data praise, as mentioned in economic times. The last height was raised – it was implemented in July 2024 – the address rates by 20-25 %, and its full effect still plays on the profits of the operator.

Rahul Macher, an investor before the seed in Devc_INDIA, in a post on X, over the past five years, has noticed that the cost of mobile phone data in India has increased steadily, and Telco Financies explains this trend clear. The main indicator? Arpu (average revenue for each user) – a measure that shows the amount of what the telecom company earns for each customer – has increased dramatically in all fields.

For example, JIO’s Arpu has multiplied, increasing between 50 % to 96 % since 2019. This means that the typical JIO user today pays nearly twice what mobile services do five years ago. While this jump comes with improvements in the quality of service, speed and coverage, it also indicates a transformation from the era of high data that has led to digital prosperity in India.

All major players – JIO, AIRTEL and VI – have seen Arpu’s growth driven by increased customs tariffs, adopting the distinguished plan, and increasing data consumption. With 5G networks and pushing for profitability, this upward trend is likely to continue.

“The data in India is cheap. But it slows down to get the most expensive – Telco Financial is involved in this precise story: about 50 % to 96 % in ARPU over the past five years, that is, to the typical JIO customers, they pay about X2 what they did 5 years ago (of course, better service, etc.),”.

Q3 Arpu

During the third quarter of the fiscal year 25, the average revenue JIO for each user (ARPU) exceeded the 200m rupees, reaching 203.3 rupees. This represents a significant growth for the communications operator, especially given that the Arpu was hovering around 180 rupees before carrying out the height of the customs tariff.

BHARTI AIRTEL Arpu has achieved 245 rupees during the Q3 FY25, making it the highest level among all telecommunications companies in the Indian telecommunications industry with a large margin. Relative, Aartel’s Arpu 208 rupees were in the same quarter of last year.

Vodafone Idea reported 173 rupees in Q3 FY25, a height of 166 rupees in the previous quarter. The company has demonstrated fixed growth in ARPU since the tariff adjustments.

Bernstein’s prediction

Bernstein expects teenagers’ revenues from mid to up to Aartel and JIO from 2025-2027, with subscriber additions and ARPU growth as major engines. Aartel is also expected to improve its financial data significantly, with a high free cash flow and net debt to EBITDA to 0.9X by FY27 solutions. It can reach 18 % ~.

Meanwhile, VI obtained relief after the government agreed to convert 36,950 rupees from the spectrum dues to property rights, raising its share to 49 %. Analysts say this step highlights the government’s commitment to maintaining the market of three players, which heralds good for price discipline and the stability of future tariffs.

Bernstein concludes that Aartel is the best position in the telecommunications sector with the basics of strong public budget, ARPU, and improvement of capital efficiency – in elegant and Asian peer performance in 2024 so far.