Many Airtel subscribers using Airtel’s Unlimited 5G service may have to rethink how they use their mobile data. Bharti Airtel has revised its Unlimited 5G offer and says there are restrictions on mobile hotspot usage and users can only use mobile hotspot use at this time and not for free. That’s a lot of people on social media who are upset.
What has changed
As of Airtel's new policy, the Unlimited 5G Data benefit is only for smartphone use. Users can no longer freely share this unlimited 5G data through mobile hotspots with laptops, tablets, or other devices. If hotspot sharing is detected, the unlimited 5G benefit may not work as expected.
This clarification is coming after several Airtel users on social media reported that their hotspot connections stopped working despite having active Unlimited 5G plans.
It still applies Fair Usage Policy
However, the "unlimited" part does not necessarily mean unlimited high-speed data. The Unlimited 5G plans of Airtel also have a Fair Usage Policy (FUP). If users are above the high-speed usage limit, the speed will be reduced or they may be limited in the plan.
Why are users upset
Many of the subscribers purchased Airtel’s Unlimited 5G plans expecting to use their smartphones as internet hotspots for work, online classes, gaming, and streaming on multiple devices. The new clarification has led some consumers to feel that the “unlimited” branding doesn’t quite match the usage conditions.
Users have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to share screenshots of the new terms and express frustration with the new limitations.
Airtel's Stand
All industry reports indicate that Airtel has not made an entirely new restriction but has made already existing terms more explicit to avoid confusion. Airtel says the Unlimited 5G promotional benefit is for smartphone use and is not intended to allow users to share hotspots with an unlimited number of devices.
What Should Airtel Users Do
If you have a prepaid or postpaid Airtel plan, you need to read the terms and conditions closely. If hotspot usage is core to your daily work or study life, you need to see if your plan supports that feature to avoid surprises.
Because telecom operators are currently working on their 5G plans, users should stay updated on policy updates, fair usage limits, and which devices are eligible to use their 5G plans to make use of their services.
