Bharti Airtel has rebranded its Priority Postpaid service as “Fast Lane.” The company says the new name better reflects the benefits offered through the plan, which promises faster and more consistent connectivity for postpaid users on Airtel’s 5G network.
The change is already visible on Airtel’s website, and users have also reported seeing the Fast Lane branding on their mobile devices.
Airtel clarified that it has not withdrawn the service. The company said only the branding has changed following the end of its launch campaign.
According to Airtel, Fast Lane uses 5G network slicing technology to provide an enhanced experience to postpaid customers. The company claims eligible users with a 5G device can enjoy faster speeds, unlimited data, and improved network performance, even in crowded areas during peak traffic hours.
The service was originally launched on May 19 under the name Priority Postpaid. Airtel said it dynamically reserves a portion of the network for these subscribers to ensure a better experience.
However, the launch quickly sparked controversy and triggered a debate around net neutrality.
Many industry observers, consumer rights advocates, and internet users questioned whether giving higher-paying postpaid customers priority access to network resources is fair. Critics argued that such a system could create a two-tier internet experience, where users paying more receive better service while others are left with a lower-quality experience.
The concerns were focused on prepaid users, who make up the majority of mobile subscribers in India. Critics feared that reserving network capacity for premium customers could indirectly affect the experience of millions of prepaid users.
The controversy even reached Parliament. On May 26, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology sought responses from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regarding the impact of 5G network slicing services. The committee also asked authorities to study similar implementations in countries such as Singapore and the United Kingdom.
The committee noted that priority plans offered by telecom operators could potentially compromise the principle of net neutrality for crores of prepaid mobile users. It asked DoT and TRAI to submit their responses within 25 days.
Airtel has strongly defended the service and rejected claims that it violates net neutrality rules.
The company says its 5G network slicing technology does not degrade the experience of prepaid users. According to Airtel, the data has been transparently shared with regulators, and network performance for prepaid customers remains unchanged.
Airtel also claims that the deployment of its standalone 5G network has improved efficiency across the network, benefiting both prepaid and postpaid subscribers.
The company says it has received a positive response to the service and plans to continue offering it under the new Fast Lane branding.
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