Reliance Jio has reiterated its focus on affordable mobile services as Bharti Airtel increases postpaid prices and telecom operators look for ways to improve average revenue per user (ARPU). Jio Platforms managing director Akash Ambani made the remarks at India Mobile Congress 2026, while also outlining the company’s ambitions in indigenous telecom technology and satellite connectivity. His comments reaffirm Jio’s stated strategy but do not amount to a commitment that its tariffs will never increase.
Akash Ambani Reaffirms Jio’s Affordability Strategy
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of India Mobile Congress on October 8, Ambani said Jio would continue to focus on affordability while providing quality services. He described value for money as a core part of the company’s approach as it develops its technology capabilities and expands its services.
The comments came as Airtel introduced higher postpaid rentals, highlighting the different ways operators are seeking to grow revenue. Jio’s position is that affordable services and technology development can go together, including through its own telecom technology stack and plans for satellite connectivity.
Ambani did not announce a new Jio tariff structure or rule out future price increases. His remarks should therefore be read as a statement of strategy rather than a guarantee about future recharge prices.
Airtel Raises Postpaid Rentals by Rs 50
Airtel’s revised postpaid plans took effect on October 8, 2026, with monthly rentals increasing by Rs 50 across the revamped portfolio. The entry-level individual plan now starts at Rs 499, while family plans start at Rs 749. The company has added one international roaming trip per SIM each year, with a five-day pack that includes 5GB of data, 60 minutes of calls and 25 outgoing SMS messages.
The roaming benefit gives customers an additional service, but the higher monthly rental remains a real cost increase. Existing postpaid subscribers are also expected to move to the nearest higher plan under the revised portfolio, according to reports citing company sources.
Airtel’s approach is to raise revenue per customer while adding benefits intended to make its postpaid plans more attractive. Jio, meanwhile, has used its latest public comments to reinforce affordability as a defining part of its proposition. Neither statement alone establishes what the next move in prepaid pricing will be.
What the ARPU Numbers Say
Average revenue per user, or ARPU, measures how much revenue a telecom operator generates per subscriber over a given period. It is a key industry metric because it reflects a combination of tariffs, customer mix, data usage and the services subscribers purchase.
Jio reported ARPU of Rs 215.6 in the second quarter of FY2026-27, up 3.3% year-on-year. Airtel reported ARPU of Rs 264, up 5.6% year-on-year. These figures show that Airtel was generating more average revenue per user in the reported quarter, although comparisons can also be influenced by differences in reporting periods, subscriber mix and business structure.
For operators, higher ARPU can support investment in network capacity, coverage, customer experience and new services. However, raising prices is only one way to increase the metric. Moving customers to higher-value plans, increasing data consumption and selling additional services can also contribute.
Why Jio Is Linking Affordability With Technology
Ambani also highlighted Jio’s ambition to become a creator of technology rather than only a buyer of equipment and systems. At India Mobile Congress, he referred to Jio’s satellite technology stack and its broader work on end-to-end technology capabilities that can support 5G products and additional services.
Jio has also showcased a proposed satellite connectivity architecture involving around 1,600 low-Earth orbit satellites and 23 ground stations. This remains a planned network, not a constellation that Jio has already deployed in full. Commercial satellite services will also depend on applicable regulatory approvals, spectrum assignment and other requirements.
The technology strategy is relevant to affordability because a company’s network architecture, equipment choices and operating costs can influence how efficiently it delivers services. But building an indigenous technology stack does not automatically translate into lower retail prices; the impact depends on deployment costs, scale, competition and the services ultimately offered.
Does Jio’s Statement Mean Its Tariffs Will Stay Unchanged?
No. Ambani’s comments reaffirm the company’s stated commitment to affordability, but they do not establish a permanent price policy. Jio has not announced a new tariff increase in these remarks, nor has it promised to maintain every existing plan at its current price indefinitely.
Customers should distinguish between a company’s general strategy and a specific commercial announcement. A confirmed tariff change would normally include details such as affected plans, revised prices, effective dates and any changes to benefits. None of those details was announced as a new Jio price revision in Ambani’s affordability comments.
For now, the immediate confirmed pricing change is Airtel’s postpaid revision. Jio’s statement offers insight into how it wants to position itself against rivals, but customers should continue checking official plan terms when choosing a recharge or postpaid connection.
What It Means for Telecom Customers
The contrast between Jio’s affordability message and Airtel’s postpaid price increase illustrates how operators are balancing value, revenue growth and additional services. Airtel is charging more for its revamped postpaid portfolio while including annual international roaming, whereas Jio is publicly emphasising affordable, quality connectivity and its technology ambitions.
The long-term outcome will depend on how customers respond to these offers and whether operators can increase revenue without losing price-sensitive users. For consumers, the most useful comparison remains the total monthly cost, data allowance, calling benefits, roaming needs and any bundled services they will actually use.
Jio has reiterated its affordability strategy, but the next concrete indicator will be its pricing decisions and reported financial results—not the statement alone.
