Bharti Airtel has announced a strategic partnership with Perplexity AI, offering a free 12-month subscription to Perplexity Pro—valued at ₹17,000—to all of its 360 million mobile, broadband, and DTH subscribers across India. This landmark collaboration makes Airtel the first telecom operator globally to integrate generative AI access into its core service offerings at scale.
What’s the Offer?
Airtel customers can now claim a one-year Perplexity Pro subscription for free. This offer includes:
- Unlimited Pro searches
- Access to top-tier AI models like GPT-4.1, Claude 4.0, and image generators
- File upload and document analysis capabilities
- Coding assistant, spreadsheet AI, and research tools through Perplexity Labs
- API credits and enhanced support
Offer is available through the Airtel Thanks app and valid until January 17, 2026.
Why This Partnership Matters
- Widespread AI Access: ₹17,000/year AI subscription now accessible to every Airtel user—democratizing generative AI use.
- Industry First: Airtel becomes the world’s first telecom to distribute a premium AI platform to such a vast customer base.
- Digital Empowerment: Brings AI search, file analysis, writing assistants, and coding support to everyday users—students, professionals, and families.
- Strategic Leap: Airtel signals its transition from telecom provider to a tech-enabled service ecosystem.
How to Claim Perplexity Pro via Airtel
- Download and open the Airtel Thanks app
- Look for the Perplexity AI offer under Subscriptions or Rewards
- Tap Claim Now
- You’ll be redirected to Perplexity’s platform
- Sign up or log in—no credit card required
Subscription activates instantly and is valid for 12 months.
Executive Quotes
Gopal Vittal, CEO & MD, Bharti Airtel:
"This partnership brings powerful, real-time knowledge tools to millions of Indians for free. We are excited to be the first to do this."
Aravind Srinivas, CEO, Perplexity AI:
"Through Airtel, we're able to scale access to trustworthy and intelligent AI assistance across India—this is a major step toward our vision."
Use Cases: Who Benefits?
- Students: AI for assignments, research summaries, and study assistance.
- Professionals: AI help with coding, presentations, and competitive analysis.
- Small Businesses: Use AI for business plans, marketing, customer support.
- Families: Travel tips, health queries, household planning—answered by AI.
Market & Technology Impact
- Telecom Transformation: Airtel shifts from bandwidth provider to smart service platform.
- Competitive Pressure: Rivals like Jio may respond with similar AI partnerships.
- AI Mainstreaming: This initiative takes AI out of elite labs and places it in daily life.
- Policy Anticipation: May trigger new data, privacy, and AI usage frameworks by regulators.
Challenges Ahead
- Awareness & Onboarding: Airtel must guide users to understand and use Perplexity effectively.
- Sustainability: After the 1-year free period, how many users will opt to pay?
- Infrastructure Load: Usage surge may test Perplexity's backend systems.
- Responsible Use: With more users comes the need for ethical guidelines, transparency, and AI literacy.
Timeline Snapshot
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 17, 2025 | Airtel announces Perplexity AI partnership |
| July 17, 2025 | Offer becomes available in Airtel Thanks app |
| Jan 17, 2026 | Last date to claim free Perplexity Pro subscription |
Final Take
This is more than a promotional bundle. It’s a game-changing digital move that brings top-tier AI access to over 360 million Indians for free. In doing so, Airtel reinforces its identity as a digital pioneer in the telecom space while introducing users to the possibilities of trustworthy, accurate, and responsive AI.
As generative AI becomes integral to daily life, Airtel’s strategic partnership with Perplexity could serve as a model for how telecoms worldwide rethink their service ecosystems.
Source: Airtel Press Release
