Bharti Airtel and Celkon partnered in 2017 to offer an affordable 4G Android smartphone under Airtel’s Mera Pehla Smartphone initiative, bringing the effective cost down to Rs 1,349 for mass 4G adoption. The bundled offer combined an entry-level Celkon Smart 4G handset with long-term Airtel recharge benefits to counter rivals like JioPhone and Vodafone–Micromax. Offer structure Tariff …
Bharti Airtel and Celkon partnered in 2017 to offer an affordable 4G Android smartphone under Airtel’s Mera Pehla Smartphone initiative, bringing the effective cost down to Rs 1,349 for mass 4G adoption. The bundled offer combined an entry-level Celkon Smart 4G handset with long-term Airtel recharge benefits to counter rivals like JioPhone and Vodafone–Micromax.
Offer structure
- Market price of the Celkon Smart 4G handset was about Rs 3,500.
- Customers paid an upfront amount of Rs 2,849 and committed to 36 months of usage.
- Airtel provided a total cash-back of Rs 1,500 (Rs 500 after 18 months + Rs 1,000 after 36 months) on meeting minimum recharge milestones, effectively bringing the cost to Rs 1,349.
Tariff and usage conditions
- Recommended pack: Airtel monthly recharge of Rs 169, including voice and data benefits on the 4G network.
- To claim the first Rs 500 refund, users needed recharges worth at least Rs 3,000 in the first 18 months, and another Rs 3,000 in the next 18 months to unlock the Rs 1,000 refund.
- Customers could use other recharge denominations, but cash-back eligibility depended on meeting the cumulative recharge thresholds.
Celkon Smart 4G device features
- 4-inch touchscreen display with dual-SIM support and FM radio.
- Android smartphone with access to Google Play Store apps such as YouTube, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
- Fully owned by the customer from day one, with no device return condition, differentiating it from some subsidized feature-phone models.
