New Delhi: The recent increase in petrol and diesel prices may soon impact mobile users across India, with reports suggesting that telecom companies could raise recharge plan prices by up to 15 per cent from June 2026.
According to industry reports, the rise in fuel prices is expected to significantly increase the operational costs of telecom companies, particularly in running mobile towers that rely heavily on diesel-powered backup systems. Power and fuel expenses reportedly account for nearly 40 per cent of a telecom tower’s operating cost.
The Centre recently increased petrol and diesel prices by around ₹3 per litre, pushing fuel costs above ₹100 per litre in several cities. Experts believe the hike could force telecom operators to speed up tariff revisions that were already being planned for later this year.
A report by TelecomTalk stated that the burden may be even higher for companies rapidly expanding 5G infrastructure, as 5G towers consume more energy and require higher maintenance costs. Large telecom operators may end up spending hundreds of crores extra annually on diesel alone.
Earlier this year, global brokerage firm Jefferies had also projected a possible 15 per cent tariff increase by June 2026, citing rising data consumption, infrastructure investments and efforts by telecom firms to improve average revenue per user (ARPU).
Major telecom companies, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, are expected to review pricing strategies in the coming weeks as inflationary pressure continues to rise across sectors.