Bharti Airtel has officially ended one of its most talked-about digital promotions the free one-year Perplexity Pro subscription for new users, marking a significant change in the company’s recent push toward AI-powered customer benefits. The offer, which attracted widespread attention across India’s tech community, allowed millions of Airtel users to access a premium artificial intelligence service without paying subscription fees.
While customers who activated the benefit earlier will continue enjoying the service, new subscribers can no longer claim the offer after its closure in January 2026. At the same time, Airtel has introduced a new digital freebie aimed at maintaining customer engagement through creative and productivity tools.
The move reflects how telecom companies are increasingly bundling digital services especially AI platforms to strengthen customer loyalty in India’s competitive telecom market.
What Was the Airtel Perplexity Pro Offer?
In mid-2025, Bharti Airtel launched an ambitious partnership-based promotion targeting its massive user base of approximately 360 million customers. Through the company’s Airtel Thanks app, eligible users were offered a complimentary 12-month subscription to Perplexity Pro, a premium AI-powered search and research platform.
The subscription was valued at roughly ₹17,000 per year, making it one of the most valuable digital perks ever offered by an Indian telecom operator.
Perplexity Pro is known for providing:
- Advanced AI-assisted search results
- Real-time information summaries
- Research assistance tools
- Enhanced productivity features
- Faster and more accurate AI responses compared to free versions
The offer quickly gained popularity among students, professionals, creators, and tech enthusiasts who were eager to explore advanced AI tools without paying premium subscription costs.
Promotion Officially Closed on January 16, 2026
According to Airtel’s latest update, the free Perplexity Pro promotion officially ended for new users on January 16, 2026. Customers attempting to claim the benefit after this date are no longer able to activate the free annual subscription.
However, Airtel clarified an important point:
Users who successfully claimed and activated the offer before the deadline will continue to receive full access for one year from their activation date.
This means many existing users will still enjoy Perplexity Pro throughout 2026, depending on when they initially redeemed the offer.
Activation Issues Faced by Some Users
Despite the excitement surrounding the promotion, some customers experienced technical difficulties during activation.
Reports from users indicated problems such as:
- Payment verification prompts appearing unexpectedly
- Temporary suspension of access after activation
- Account confirmation delays
- Service interruptions linked to verification checks
These issues caused confusion among subscribers who believed the subscription was entirely free. In most cases, the prompts were part of automated verification systems rather than actual billing attempts.
Airtel acknowledged that a small number of users faced activation “snags,” though many cases were resolved after account verification or app updates.
Why Airtel Introduced AI-Based Benefits
Industry analysts believe the Perplexity Pro offer was part of Airtel’s broader strategy to transform itself from a traditional telecom provider into a digital services ecosystem.
Telecom companies today compete not only on pricing and network coverage but also on value-added services. By offering AI subscriptions, Airtel aimed to:
- Increase engagement with the Airtel Thanks app
- Provide premium digital experiences beyond data plans
- Attract younger and tech-focused customers
- Position itself as an innovation-driven telecom brand
The promotion also highlighted how artificial intelligence is becoming a mainstream consumer product rather than a niche technology.
New Freebie Announced: Adobe Express Premium for One Year
After closing the Perplexity Pro promotion, Airtel introduced a replacement benefit one year of Adobe Express Premium, available through the Airtel Thanks app.
Adobe Express Premium focuses on creativity and digital content creation, offering tools such as:
- Social media post design templates
- Video editing features
- Logo and poster creation tools
- AI-powered image enhancements
- Quick marketing content creation
Unlike the earlier offer, this new benefit is available more broadly across users through the app, making it accessible to a larger audience.
The shift suggests Airtel is expanding from AI research tools toward creative productivity services that appeal to influencers, students, and small businesses.
Customer Reactions: Mixed but Curious
The end of the Perplexity Pro offer has sparked mixed reactions online.
- Disappointment Among Late Users
Many customers who missed the deadline expressed disappointment, especially after hearing about the value of the free AI subscription from early adopters.
Some users noted that the promotion helped them explore AI tools for academic research, coding assistance, and professional productivity.
- Positive Response to New Creative Tools
Others welcomed the Adobe Express Premium benefit, saying creative software is useful for everyday digital tasks like social media content, presentations, and small business promotions.
Tech observers say such mixed reactions are common when telecom companies rotate promotional benefits.
Growing Trend: Telecom Companies Bundling Digital Subscriptions
Airtel’s promotion reflects a broader global trend where telecom operators bundle premium digital services into mobile plans.
Examples include partnerships offering:
- Streaming platforms
- Cloud storage services
- Gaming subscriptions
- Productivity apps
- Artificial intelligence tools
These bundles help telecom brands differentiate themselves in markets where pricing competition alone is no longer enough to retain customers.
India, with its massive smartphone user base and rapidly growing digital economy, has become a key testing ground for such bundled offerings.
What Existing Users Should Know Now
If you already claimed the Perplexity Pro offer, here are the key points:
- Your subscription remains active for 12 months from activation.
- No additional payment is required if activation was completed successfully.
- Access issues may require account verification within the app.
Renewal after the free period will follow standard subscription pricing unless new promotions are announced.
Users who did not activate the offer before the January deadline will need to subscribe independently through the platform if they want continued access.
Airtel’s Digital Future: More Partnerships Expected
Experts believe Airtel’s experiment with AI subscriptions signals the beginning of more partnerships between telecom providers and technology companies.
As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into daily life, telecom operators may continue offering bundled access to:
- AI productivity platforms
- Learning tools
- Creative software
- Cloud-based applications
Such collaborations could redefine how mobile networks deliver value not just through connectivity but through digital ecosystems.
End of One Offer, Start of a New Digital Strategy
The closure of Airtel’s free Perplexity Pro subscription marks the end of a highly successful promotional campaign that introduced millions of Indian users to advanced AI tools. While new users can no longer claim the benefit, existing subscribers will continue enjoying premium access throughout their eligibility period.
With the launch of Adobe Express Premium as a replacement offer, Airtel appears to be shifting toward broader digital creativity and productivity services. The move highlights a larger transformation happening within the telecom industry where customer loyalty is increasingly driven by digital experiences rather than just network speed or pricing.
As competition intensifies, customers can likely expect more such partnerships combining telecom services with cutting-edge technology in the near future.
