3 min read
Across the border, telecom giants Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio are making headlines by offering free access to advanced AI tools. Currently, in Pakistan, Onic stands out as the only SIM provider offering free premium ChatGPT services. In contrast, major networks like Jazz, Ufone, Zong, and Telenor do not provide any free or trial versions of AI services. This stark contrast highlights Onic’s unique position in the market.
Airtel’s Free AI Offer Unlocks Premium Tools
- Bharti Airtel has partnered with Perplexity, offering 360 million customers a free 1-year subscription to Perplexity Pro, valued at ₹17,000 (about $200).
- The subscription includes access to GPT‑4.1, Claude, Gemini, up to 300 AI searches per day, document uploads, image generation, and AI labs, all activated seamlessly via the Airtel Thanks app.
- It’s available to prepaid, postpaid, broadband, and DTH users, meaning almost every Airtel customer can benefit.
Meanwhile, Reliance Jio is making headway with its ambitious Bharat GPT initiative in collaboration with IIT Bombay, and is reportedly exploring deals to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT within Jio’s ecosystem.
In contrast, Pakistani carriers have yet to introduce any free tiers or trial access to paid AI services.
No Government or IT Ministry Push for Telecom AI
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and related regulatory bodies may speak about digital transformation and ambitious plans, but there is no visible government-led AI rollout through telcos. No public-private partnerships or support frameworks aim to integrate AI into telecom services at a national level.
Meanwhile, Indian telecom policy explicitly supports AI infrastructure development like Bharat GPT, pushing carriers to adopt advanced offerings.
Why Can’t Pakistani Providers Offer the Same?
Given Airtel’s success in granting broad AI access, a reasonable question arises: If Indian providers can offer such high-value AI subscriptions, why can’t Pakistani providers do the same?
Scale & Partnerships: Airtel works with global AI firms like Perplexity to deliver high-value services at no cost, while Pakistani carriers lack comparable global AI collaborations.
Market Push: India is pushing ahead with national initiatives like Bharat GPT and localized AI infrastructure. Pakistan doesn’t show a parallel public-private strategy on this scale.
Value Addition Strategy: Even as Pakistani consumers look for digital extras beyond mobile data or streaming, AI-based research tools, writing assistance, or image generation, our carriers haven’t yet tapped into this space.
It’s time for Pakistani carriers to ask: If AI is the future, why isn’t it accessible locally?
