Airtel's 'Unlimited' 5G Data Faces Scrutiny Over Hotspot Clause

Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator, has faced criticism regarding terms associated with its 'unlimited' 5G data offering. Reports have highlighted specific clauses that restricted data sharing via mobile hotspots and defined data usage beyond a certain threshold as 'commercial use'.

Airtel's terms of service stipulated that data usage exceeding 300 GB within a billing cycle would be considered 'commercial usage'. Significantly, a clause appeared to prohibit the sharing of such data through mobile hotspots. These conditions, particularly the hotspot restriction, gained traction on social media platforms and sparked customer backlash.

While users reported finding the disputed clause on Airtel's website, it was not readily apparent at the point of sale. Following the outcry, the clause's visibility on the website changed, suggesting it may have been removed or altered. Airtel has not issued a formal clarification, though reports indicate the clause has been removed and hotspot functionality was never technically disabled for regular use.

In contrast to competitors like Jio, which permits hotspot sharing, and Vi, which has a similar 300 GB limit but no explicit hotspot ban, Airtel's earlier conditions were perceived as more restrictive. Customer complaints centered on the discrepancy between the 'unlimited' marketing and the actual usage terms, raising questions about industry standards for 'unlimited' data.