Airtel Company Customer Care Number: Practical, Complete Guide (India)

Bharti Airtel Limited is India’s second‑largest telecom operator by subscribers, with nationwide mobility, broadband (Airtel Xstream Fiber), DTH (Airtel Digital TV), and payments services. If you need help with billing, SIM, network, broadband, DTH, or roaming, knowing the correct customer care number and the fastest way to reach an agent will save time and prevent repeat calls.

This guide focuses on Airtel’s India customer care numbers, how they’re billed, when to use each one, what to prepare before you call, and how to escalate if an issue remains unresolved. Where numbers vary by telecom circle or service line, you’ll also find the official link to fetch the correct regional contact.

The primary Airtel customer care numbers you should know

For most Airtel services in India (prepaid/postpaid mobile, Xstream Fiber broadband, Digital TV), the short codes below are the starting point. From an Airtel mobile connection, these connect quickly and are recognized by the IVR to auto‑identify your account.

• 121 — General Customer Care (from an Airtel mobile). Use for plan changes, billing queries, SIM support, broadband/DTH assistance, shifting requests, etc. Available 24×7. IVR information is typically free; speaking to an advisor may be chargeable as per your plan. If your plan includes unlimited calls, most users see no extra charge for the call itself.
• 198 — Complaints & Service Requests (from an Airtel mobile). TRAI‑mandated complaint line; toll‑free from Airtel. Use when you want to log a formal complaint or follow up on a Service Request (SR) that missed its due date.
• 1909 — Do‑Not‑Disturb (DND) activation and unsolicited commercial communication complaints (toll‑free; works across all operators by regulation). You can call or send an SMS to 1909 to start/modify DND preferences or to report spam calls/SMS.
• *121# — USSD for quick self‑care (balance, best offers, data, pack validity) from an Airtel mobile. Works without data and is free to browse; any activations you perform will be charged at the displayed price.

If you’re calling from a non‑Airtel number, Airtel provides circle‑wise 10‑digit customer care numbers. These vary by state/telecom circle, so fetch the correct one here: https://www.airtel.in/support/ (choose “Mobile,” then your state/circle). Save that number in your contacts for future use, especially if your Airtel SIM is inactive or lost.

Charges, operating hours, and when to use which number

198 is toll‑free from Airtel and is the right choice when you want to log a formal complaint or when something time‑sensitive is broken (no network, SIM not working, recharge failures, or repeated service disruptions). 121 is ideal for general information, plan changes, upgrades, device configuration, and non‑urgent queries. For spam and DND controls, 1909 is best because it is operator‑neutral and regulated.

Most Airtel helplines run 24×7 for mobility services. Broadband and DTH assistance via 121 is also available round the clock, though field visits (if needed) follow local working hours. If you’re on international roaming and your Airtel SIM registers on a foreign network, 121/198 usually still connect; if they don’t, use Wi‑Fi to contact support via the Airtel Thanks app or retrieve your circle’s long customer care number from the support site and dial with +91.

Reaching a human faster: proven tactics

Have these handy before calling: your Airtel mobile/DSL/DTH customer ID, last recharge or bill amount, registered email address, and the exact error messages or failure timestamps. This helps the IVR identify you and reduces hold time when transferred to an advisor.

On 121, select your language, then choose the service (Mobile, Broadband/Landline, or Digital TV). If you don’t hear a direct “Talk to an advisor” option, go to “Other Queries” or “Complaints” to reach an agent. Avoid hanging up mid‑IVR—once the system recognizes repeated attempts, it may surface the advisor option sooner. If your call drops, your SR number (if generated) will arrive via SMS; keep it for follow‑ups on 198.

Digital channels that are often faster than calling

Airtel Thanks app (Android/iOS) lets you raise and track Service Requests, schedule broadband shifts, troubleshoot Wi‑Fi, change plans, and order a SIM replacement. Because it authenticates your account, it often eliminates multiple verification questions. For network or billing issues, you’ll receive an SR number and a resolution due date inside the app and via SMS.

For web access, visit https://www.airtel.in/support/ to chat with an agent, check outages, and get circle‑wise customer care numbers and appellate contacts. For public social channels, @Airtel_Presence on X (Twitter) typically requests your details via DM and creates an SR; do not share full IDs publicly—stick to masked details until moved to a secure channel.

Official escalation path (TRAI‑compliant)

If your issue remains unresolved past the due date shared by Airtel (visible in the Thanks app or SMS/email), escalate through the regulator‑mandated two‑step path: first to the Nodal Officer for your circle, then to the Appellate Authority. Both contacts (phone/email/office hours) are published per circle on Airtel’s support site.

• Step 1: Call 198 (toll‑free) or use the Thanks app/web chat to log a complaint and obtain an SR number and due date. Keep any call/chat transcripts and payment proofs.
• Step 2: If not resolved by the due date, write or call the Nodal Officer for your circle (details at https://www.airtel.in/support/ → “Contact Us” → “Nodal/Appellate”). Provide the SR number, dates, and what resolution you expect.
• Step 3: If still unresolved or unsatisfactory after the Nodal response, approach the Appellate Authority for your circle. File within the time window stated on the site, attach the SR and Nodal correspondence, and include any evidence (screenshots, call logs, bills).

Escalations without an SR number are commonly delayed. Always start on 121/198 or via the Thanks app to ensure your case is traceable. For payments or recharge disputes, attach transaction IDs from your bank/wallet and screenshots from the Airtel Thanks app.

International roaming and emergency scenarios

While roaming, if your Airtel SIM registers on a partner network, try 121/198 first. If those do not connect, switch to Wi‑Fi and use the Airtel Thanks app to raise an SR. If you’ve lost your SIM/phone, immediately use the Thanks app on another device or the web to block the SIM, or contact your circle’s long customer care number (find it at https://www.airtel.in/support/) and ask for SIM barring. Once blocked, visit the nearest Airtel Store with ID proof for a replacement SIM (typically issued the same day; activation may take a few hours).

For broadband outages that impact work, include timestamps, modem/router lights, and speed test results (server, Mbps, ping) in your complaint. For DTH trouble, note the on‑screen error code (e.g., signal or subscription errors). Adding these specifics speeds up triage and reduces repeat visits.

Verified links and corporate address

Official website: https://www.airtel.in/ (support hub, plan changes, broadband/DTH requests). Support landing page: https://www.airtel.in/support/ (circle‑wise numbers, Nodal/Appellate details, live chat).

Registered corporate office (India): Bharti Airtel Limited, Airtel Center, Plot No. 16, Udyog Vihar, Phase IV, Gurugram, Haryana 122015, India. For postal correspondence on escalations, use your circle’s Nodal/Appellate contact given on the support site rather than the corporate HQ, as circle teams handle service matters faster.

Bottom line

For quick help, start with 121 (general support) and 198 (toll‑free complaints) from your Airtel mobile. Use 1909 for DND/spam issues. If calling from a non‑Airtel number, fetch your circle’s customer care number from the support page and save it. Always capture the SR number and due date, and escalate to your circle’s Nodal Officer and Appellate Authority if a case misses its deadline. With these steps—and the Airtel Thanks app—you’ll cut resolution time dramatically and keep a clean paper trail if escalation is required.