Bharti Airtel has announced a major partnership with Perplexity AI. As part of the deal, Airtel users will get a free one-year subscription to Perplexity Pro, an AI-powered search engine similar to ChatGPT. Normally priced at ₹17,000 per year, the premium service is now bundled at no extra cost with Airtel plans.
This makes Airtel the first Indian telecom operator to offer a premium AI service to its 360 million mobile, broadband, and DTH users.
What is Perplexity Pro?
Perplexity Pro is an advanced AI search engine that answers questions by scanning the web and generating clear responses. It uses models like GPT-4.1, Claude 4.0, and Google’s AI tools.
Key Features (Now Free for Airtel Users):
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Up to 300 AI-powered searches per day for research and learning.
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Document and file uploads for instant analysis and summaries.
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Text-to-image generation using models like DALL·E.
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Model switching between GPT-4.1, Claude, and Google AI.
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Labs feature that builds spreadsheets, dashboards, or simple apps.
Why This Airtel Offer Matters
This move is a game-changer for AI accessibility in India. By giving away Perplexity Pro for free, Airtel is putting professional-grade AI tools in the hands of millions. Students can use it for learning, professionals for research, and creators for building visuals—all without paying a rupee.
Historically, telecom operators bundled video and music services. This is the first time an Indian telco has offered a premium AI service free of cost.
How Airtel Users Can Claim Free Perplexity Pro
Airtel has made claiming the offer easy via the Airtel Thanks app:
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Update or open the Airtel Thanks app and log in to your account.
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Go to the Rewards section in the menu.
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Look for the banner: “Get 12 months of Perplexity Pro worth ₹17,000 FREE”.
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Tap Claim Now to activate the offer.
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Sign in or create a Perplexity account. (No credit card or payment details needed.)
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Start using Perplexity Pro immediately for 12 months.
Impact on India’s Telecom and AI Market
Airtel’s partnership puts pressure on rivals like Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea. Jio has been rumored to be in talks with OpenAI, but no official offer exists yet. As a result, Airtel becomes the first mover in telecom + AI bundles.
Industry experts believe this will accelerate AI adoption in India’s digital economy. It also signals a bigger trend: telecom platforms integrating AI services into apps, devices, and networks.
The Future of AI and Telecom
Airtel’s step hints at a future where AI becomes a core telecom feature. We can expect:
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AI chat assistants in telecom apps.
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AI-powered customer support.
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Local language AI chatbots.
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Smart IoT automation via 5G networks.
This Airtel–Perplexity deal is likely just the beginning of a new wave of AI-powered offers in India’s telecom space.
