In a groundbreaking move, Bharti Airtel has announced a strategic partnership with AI-powered search platform Perplexity, offering its premium Perplexity Pro subscription worth ₹17,000/year absolutely free for one year to all Airtel customers. This offer is valid for all 360 million Airtel prepaid, postpaid, and broadband users across India.
What Is Perplexity Pro?
Perplexity is not your traditional search engine. Instead of giving you a list of links, Perplexity delivers concise, conversational, and verified answers instantly. Its Pro subscription unlocks a powerful suite of AI tools that support:
- Advanced research
- Real-time factual queries
- Creative content generation
- Productivity workflows
Whether you’re a student, researcher, content creator, or entrepreneur, Perplexity Pro is built to enhance how you search, learn, and work online.
Why Is Airtel Giving Perplexity Pro for Free?
Airtel’s decision to offer this premium service—valued at ₹17,000/year—is more than just a freebie. It’s a strategic masterstroke to:
- Enhance customer loyalty amid rising competition from Reliance Jio
- Attract new subscribers with exclusive value-added services
- Position Airtel as an AI-first, tech-forward telecom brand
- Prepare its network infrastructure for the rising wave of AI-driven data usage
Industry experts believe this partnership is also a testbed for future monetisation, allowing Airtel to bundle and sell premium AI services in the future.
Airtel vs. Jio: The Battle for AI Leadership
As of May 2025, Airtel had around 390 million users versus Reliance Jio’s 472 million. In May alone, Airtel added just 275,000 new subscribers, highlighting the intensifying competition in India’s telecom space.
By partnering with Perplexity—its first telco tie-up in India—Airtel aims to not only retain its existing customer base but also drive AI adoption across India’s vast and varied internet population.
A Win-Win: Value for Users, Data for Perplexity
According to Shiv Putcha, founder of Mandala Insights, this partnership provides massive reach for Perplexity and a valuable dataset from Indian users. It also:
- Strengthens Airtel’s brand positioning in the AI revolution
- Brings Perplexity closer to becoming a mainstream name in India
- Opens up a two-sided revenue model where Airtel acts as both a promoter and reseller
Putcha emphasizes, “Since Airtel lacks its own foundational AI infrastructure, teaming up with Perplexity helps it ride the generative AI wave and build brand association with cutting-edge tech.”
How to Activate Your Free Perplexity Pro Subscription
Airtel users can soon activate their free Perplexity Pro subscription through:
- Airtel Thanks App
- Airtel Website
- Official Communication Channels
Details on the redemption process are expected to be announced shortly.
Airtel’s partnership with Perplexity is more than just a marketing gimmick—it’s a forward-looking alliance that blends connectivity with intelligence. By providing high-value AI services for free, Airtel is not only enhancing user experience but also setting the tone for the future of telecom in India.
In a world moving rapidly toward AI-powered everything, this collaboration marks a new chapter for Indian internet users—bringing the power of generative AI to your fingertips, one Airtel connection at a time.
