Telecom operator Airtel has announced a partnership with YouTube to bring YouTube Premium benefits to its prepaid customers, adding the video platform’s premium offering to its growing portfolio of entertainment services.
The company said the move is aimed at addressing changing consumer behaviour, where mobile data is increasingly being used not only for communication but also for video streaming, music listening, creator-led content consumption and content discovery.
Airtel noted that YouTube Premium joins a list of entertainment offerings already available through its OTT portfolio, which includes Prime Video, JioHotstar, ZEE5 Premium, SonyLIV and more than 18 other OTT platforms. The YouTube Premium benefit will be bundled with Airtel’s Rs 200 OTT top-up pack, which also includes 30GB of additional data.
The telecom operator said the addition of YouTube Premium strengthens its entertainment proposition by expanding beyond traditional OTT video streaming services. Under the partnership, Airtel prepaid customers will be able to access YouTube Premium benefits, including an ad-free YouTube experience, background playback, offline downloads and YouTube Music Premium.
Airtel said the YouTube Premium benefit will remain active for the duration of the top-up’s 28-day validity period.
The company said the offering is available to Airtel prepaid customers who have an active base recharge plan. Customers can activate the benefit through the “Rewards & OTTs” section of the Airtel Thanks app after purchasing the top-up. The partnership reflects evolving smartphone usage trends, with customers increasingly relying on mobile data to watch videos, follow creators, catch up on entertainment content, stream music and discover new digital experiences, according to Airtel. The company said the inclusion of YouTube Premium broadens its prepaid entertainment portfolio and brings together multiple forms of content consumption under a single offering, ranging from OTT streaming and creator content to music and short-form videos.
Once the top-up expires, customers who wish to continue using the service can purchase the pack again and re-claim the YouTube Premium benefit through the Airtel app. The company added that by combining data, premium entertainment subscriptions and other digital services in one package, it aims to provide greater value to prepaid subscribers beyond basic connectivity. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.