Destinations
Roaming in India: pricey per megabyte, with one detail people forget
India is one of the priciest zones on European plans, and the trip is long. How the billing works and why a local SIM is not the quick way out.
Tomás Berruezo 5 min Photo by Remi Clinton on Unsplash India usually falls into the priciest zones on European plans, and the trips last two or three weeks. That combination is what turns a moment's inattention into a serious bill.
How you are billed
Daily pass, bundle or pay-as-you-go, depending on your plan. With a daily pass, every day the phone touches data counts in full, and on a twenty-day trip that is twenty fees.
The detail people forget: a local SIM is not instant
Plenty of people land with roaming on, thinking they will buy a local card at the airport and switch roaming off straight away. In India that process requires documentation and activation can take hours, so the phone stays connected in roaming meanwhile.
That is exactly the gap where the expensive usage is generated: between landing and having the local line working.
What the paperwork requires and how coverage looks is in the guide to internet in India.
What to do
- Check which zone India is in on your plan.
- Turn off data roaming BEFORE boarding, not on landing.
- Leave the line switched on for calls and texts.
- Arrive with data already sorted, because the first ride from the airport is booked by app.
Calls
Receiving calls outside the European Union can carry a charge depending on your plan. For talking to people at home, messaging over data works out practically free by comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How much does roaming in India cost?
It depends on your plan, but India is usually in the priciest zones. It may be a daily pass, a bundle or pay-as-you-go.
Can I turn roaming off and buy a SIM on arrival?
You can, but the Indian process requires documentation and activation can take hours. That gap is where the expensive usage comes from if you leave roaming on.
Am I charged for receiving calls?
It can carry a charge depending on your plan, because India is outside the European Union.
Do I need data the moment I land?
It helps a great deal: transport from the airport is booked by app and accommodation confirms by messaging.
Is there coverage on the trains?
In stretches. On long journeys there are rural areas with no signal, so travel with your tickets downloaded.
