Bharti Airtel has launched “Priority Postpaid”, a new postpaid offering based on 5G network slicing technology, as per an announcement. The service is to provide more stable mobile connectivity for users during periods of network congestion.
The rollout is the first commercial use of 5G slicing technology by a telecom operator in India. The company said the service has been introduced for customers using mobile networks for office communication, streaming, app-based services, and online collaboration.
Network slicing is a feature supported on standalone 5G architecture. It allows telecom operators to allocate separate portions of network capacity to different categories of users or services.
According to Airtel, the technology is to improve consistency in locations with high data traffic, including concerts, crowded marketplaces, railway stations, and busy roads.
The company stated that users on Priority Postpaid plans may experience lower latency and more stable connectivity compared with standard network usage during congestion.
Airtel said the feature will be available across its postpaid portfolio, and existing postpaid subscribers will receive the service automatically. Prepaid users can migrate through the Airtel Thanks application or retail stores.
The ₹449 individual postpaid plan includes Airtel Xstream Play, Adobe Express Premium and 100 GB cloud storage. Family plans include bundled subscriptions to services such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, Apple TV+, and Apple Music.
Airtel reported average revenue per user (ARPU) of ₹257 in the March quarter, compared with ₹245 in the same period last year. The company added 0.8 million postpaid users during the quarter, taking the total subscriber base in the segment to 29 million.
The launch has renewed discussion around net neutrality regulations in the telecom sector. Cellular Operators Association of India said 5G slicing does not violate existing rules because all users continue to access the same internet content regardless of their plans.
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As of May 20, 2026, 2:57 pm, Bharti Airtel share price was trading at ₹1,905.20, down 0.43% from the previous closing price.
The introduction of 5G slicing-based postpaid plans shows growing competition among telecom operators to strengthen premium subscriber retention and expand adoption.
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Published on: May 20, 2026, 3:08 PM IST
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