Destinations
Internet in India: why the local SIM is the paperwork, not the solution
Extremely cheap data for those who live there and considerable paperwork for those visiting. What coverage is like and what to do before landing.
Rubén Ortega 7 min Photo by Jovyn Chamb on Unsplash India has some of the cheapest mobile data on the planet and, at the same time, some of the most awkward paperwork for a tourist to get hold of it. That contradiction is what defines connectivity at this destination.
The local SIM paperwork
Opening an Indian line requires documents and identification, with a photograph and forms, and activation is not always immediate: it can take hours or more. It can be done, and there are counters at the international airports, but it is not the five-minute affair of other countries.
That is why India is one of the destinations where an eSIM installed before departure changes the first day most: you land with data, with the map working and the ride-hailing app ready, which is exactly what you need there from minute one.
Coverage
Broad 4G across practically the whole country and 5G in the large cities. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and the tourist cities of Rajasthan are well covered, and so are the main roads.
The gaps appear in rural areas, in the mountains of the north and on some long train journeys, which in India can run for many hours.
What the phone is used for there
- Ride-hailing apps, which are the sensible way to get around the big cities and save haggling over every trip.
- Maps, indispensable with that traffic and signage.
- Payment by code, extremely widespread in India even at small stalls, though many local systems are built for accounts inside the country.
- A translator, useful outside the tourist circuits.
What you are going to use
Between 400 and 800 MB a day on a normal trip. It climbs quickly if you lean hard on ride-hailing apps, which query the map constantly.
To size the plan properly, the arithmetic is in how much data you really use on a trip.
One warning about the trains
Tickets and platforms are checked in the app, and platform changes are announced at short notice. With data, a complicated journey works itself out; without data, in an Indian station, it is quite another experience.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to buy a local SIM in India?
It is possible but awkward: it requires documents, a photograph and forms, and activation can take hours. There are counters at the international airports.
Is coverage good in India?
Yes, broad 4G across almost the whole country and 5G in the large cities. The gaps are in rural areas, the northern mountains and on long train journeys.
Do I need data to get around India?
It helps a great deal: city transport is solved through an app, trains are checked from the phone, and the map is indispensable in the big cities.
How much data do I need?
Between 400 and 800 MB a day, that is roughly 6 to 12 GB over two weeks.
Can I pay with the local code systems?
They are extremely widespread, but many are built for bank accounts inside the country. It is worth carrying a card and some cash.
