Telecom major Bharti Airtel on Thursday slashed mobile broadband rates on its 3G networks by up to 70 per cent.

"Volume based browsing rate on 3G down from 10 paise per 10kb to 3 paise per 10 Kb. This will be applicable for 3G non-pack users with effect from May 17, 2012," the company said in a statement on Thursday.

The offer is for those customers who have not subscribed for 3G service, which provides average high Internet speed of between 1 megabit per second to 2 mbps, under any special offer and want to use high speed Internet as per their need.

Airtel provides 3G services across 21 telecom service, with its direct present in 13 telecom service area and in rest of the circles under roaming agreement with other companies.

The company has won 3G spectrum for 13 telecom service area in 2010 for little over Rs 12,000 crore.

The statement mentioned special tariff for pre-paid users starting at Rs 10, which will enable them 30 minutes of Internet access on its 3G network with validity of 1 day.

Apart from this, Airtel 3G pre-paid users can buy 3G high speed Internet service starting Rs 45 for 150 MB with for use within 7 days to Rs 1,500 for 10 Gigabit (GB) to be used within period of 30 days.

Airtel currently offers 1 GB Internet usage to its pre- paid users for Rs 98 which is valid for period of 30 days.

The new rates for post-paid users ranges between Rs 100 for 300 MB to Rs 1,500 for 10 GB use within 30 days.

The company also announced 'Smartbytes', an additional usage pack, for 3G post-paid users who exhaust there monthly limit of high speed Internet usage.

The company announced Smartbyte package ranging between Rs 80 for 200 MB to Rs 300 for 1024 MB or 1 GB.