Airtel may raise call rates up to 10 - 20 percent
Bharti Airtel may increase its mobile call rates by 10 to 20 percent
"On our call with Bharti management today, it stated voice prices are still trending up and there is potential for a 10-20 percent increase from current levels," it said.
Local and STD rates of 50 paise per minute to Airtel mobiles were increased to 60 paise, while calls to landlines went up to 90 paise per minute from 60 paise.
Bharti's management sees its recent agreement with Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Jio Infocomm reduces the risk of any "gorilla attack" fears and there is room for "peaceful co-existence" for all.
The research firm said that Bharti era of SMS to fade away as the revenue its generates from mobile internet service over 6 times more than SMS.
Airtel saw increase revenue from mobile Internet services which now accounts for 10 percent of its total business, Nomura said.
"Currently, sale of data packs brings in Rs. 100 per user, versus SMS ARPUs of about Rs. 15 which is at risk from cannibalisation," the Nomura report said.
Airtel did not comment on upcoming spectrum auction but the research firm expects company to bid for airwaves in process which starts from January 23 next year.
