End of Unlimited 5G Data? Analysts Urge Telecom Firms To Rethink Free Offers

Market analysts have suggested that telecom operators should gradually phase out free unlimited 5G data benefits and explore new pricing strategies as data consumption continues to surge across networks.

Indian telecom users enjoying unlimited 5G data benefits may face changes in the future if industry analysts’ recommendations are taken into account.

A recent market research report has advised telecom operators including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea to reconsider their free unlimited 5G offerings and focus on generating additional revenue from rising data consumption.

Since the rollout of 5G services in India, telecom companies have largely offered unlimited 5G data to users on eligible plans. Most prepaid users receive unlimited 5G access with plans that provide 2GB or more data per day, while postpaid customers also enjoy similar benefits.

However, analysts believe that as network usage continues to grow rapidly, telecom operators should begin monetising the increasing demand for data rather than continuing to offer unlimited access at no additional cost.

According to the report, combined data traffic across India’s three major private telecom operators is expected to grow by around 29 per cent during the 2025-26 financial year, compared to the previous year. This follows an estimated growth of approximately 21.5 per cent in the preceding fiscal year.

Data consumption is rising sharply across all major networks, with Reliance Jio reportedly leading the growth trend.

The report estimates that Jio’s data consumption has increased by around 31 per cent year-on-year, while Airtel has recorded a growth of 28 per cent and Vodafone Idea about 23 per cent.

Average monthly data usage per subscriber is also expected to increase significantly. According to projections, average consumption could reach 34.1GB per subscriber during FY 2025-26, up from 27.3GB in FY 2024-25.

Analysts argue that increasing recharge prices alone may not be sufficient for telecom companies to improve their average revenue per user (ARPU). They suggest that operators may need to introduce revised data pricing structures and optimise tariff plans to better align with growing network usage.

The report specifically recommends curbing or discontinuing free unlimited 5G data benefits as part of a broader strategy to improve profitability and monetisation.

At present, there has been no official announcement from Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel or Vodafone Idea regarding the withdrawal of unlimited 5G data offers. The recommendations reflect the views of market analysts and do not indicate any confirmed policy change by telecom operators.

For now, eligible users continue to receive unlimited 5G benefits under existing plans. However, as data consumption continues to rise and operators seek new revenue opportunities, industry observers believe telecom companies may eventually revisit their current pricing models.

Any future changes to unlimited 5G benefits would require official announcements from telecom operators and could vary across different plans and customer segments.

Disclaimer: This article is based on analyst recommendations and industry reports. No telecom operator has officially announced the discontinuation of unlimited 5G data services at the time of writing. Users should refer to official company announcements for plan-related updates.