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Staying connected when traveling can be a real hassle. Finding local Sim cards or paying high data roaming fees only serve to add stress and costs to most travel experiences. Finding the right option when abroad can be challenging and expensive, and more often than not your best option is to go with a local provider. However, finding a local provider and setting up a new line can be problematic depending on local laws and language barriers. The Indian Association of Tour Operators is listening and is aiming to boost international travelers’ connectivity by offering free SIM cards to visitors.
How it Works
This will see travelers arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi, being offered a free local SIM card upon arrival. To be eligible for the free SIM card, you must be arriving using the e-visa system. The IATO plans to extend this promotion to 15 airports around the country that also offer the e-visa facility. The SIM is restricted to e-visa travelers since their information is available in advance, which allows the company to sync the SIM information with the travelers’ data well in advance. The e-visa system is open to citizens of 150+ countries who are visiting India for medical, leisure, or casual business reasons.
The free SIM card is offered by the government-run telecom operator BSNL. The card will come pre-loaded with 50 MB of data, and 50 rupees ($0.85) of credit. The credit can be used for making calls and is valid for one month. More importantly for international travelers, the SIM card has a 24-hour helpline that is available in 12 languages including English, German, Japanese, and Russian.
How to Get Your Free SIM
To obtain your free SIM card is relatively straightforward, all you need to do is present the information page of your passport along with a copy of your e-visa to receive your free SIM. The new process is an enormous improvement on the previous system of obtaining an Indian SIM. Previously you had to submit a photocopy of your passport, a valid visa stamp, proof of address, personal photographs, and the address of a local reference, which was hardly worth the effort if you were in the country for a week or two, since it often took several days just to get your card activated.
Overall
This latest step from IATO is a great step forward for Indian tourism; staying connected and sharing our travel experiences with friends and family on social media is a must. Any step that makes this easier is a great move in the right direction.
Source: The Points Guy/Emily McNutt
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Good move to promote tourism.
This is great news for travelers and more countries should be doing this! 🙂
Will be traveling to Germany in the summer – tips on the best phone plan to use while there would be appreciated. Should I leave my usual phone at home and bring an old phone and get a new sim card there? Clueless about the process.
Who is your current cell phone provider? How long will you be in Germany?
3 weeks and then a few days in Switzerland – currently with Verizon.
For that amount of time I’d get a local SIM. Not worth the daily charges from Verizon.
Great news! Nice way to attract tourism!
Great idea – esp with all the red tape in India!
Good to see that . Last time I was there it was very difficult to get a sim card
How much spying is involved lol
Great news, I am visiting in Nov.
The previous system sounds like a complete nightmare. The new system sounds a good bit better, but still sounds like a bit of a hassle. I’m not likely to ever be in India, but if I was I’d probably just use my normal SIM if it worked and try to keep calls to a minimum.
A. It’s a good move, because in this expanding (or should I say shrinking) world, connection is often a necessity. B. It’s also a shrewd move to give you some data, and potentially get a little extra payment in the long run. Not saying that’s the ultimate end goal, but income is income, and I’m sure they’ll be hoping for it.
And the data there is super cheap at least compared to Europe
And Europe is super cheap compared to Canada!
That’s mighty nice of India. Having a means of contact seems trivial, so it keeps slipping my mind, but really, it’s nice to be connected while traveling.
I must be technologically challenged or just frugal. I am still using email, FaceTime, and Facebook when traveling overseas.
Does anyone know whether this is a micro-SIM or a mini-SIM card?
But be aware of this “free” sim card – it is with the government operated BSNL network operator which doesn’t have great coverage. Saving $0.85 is not going to be a big deal, you should look for a sim from a better network provider.
This is a great idea to promote tourism but only 50mb of data?
It is enough to get you started at least! a quick check of email to let your family and friends know you’ve arrived and a quick facebook post. After that you’ll pay but at least you’ve got the SIM at that point and all you need to do is top off.
Yea it’s a good start. Hopefully the reload rates are competitive as well.
One simple and nice thing to do which gives something concrete to tourists and doens’t cost a lot (maybe nothing at all) to India.
Awesome. I always switch out my US sim when traveling. way more convenient and friends can always contact me via imessage/wechat/whatsapp.
Who would not be interested in a simplified process and offerings of, “free?”!
Very wise move to attract more international visitors, I hope other countries will follow. Well done, India!
Even though international roaming options have gotten progressively better, it would be great if programs like this gained some traction in more countries.
very generous, although cell service can be hit or miss in parts of India
that is a really nice freebie
It is great to see innovate marketing in the travel market.
What a cool idea! This should be more common – they’d probably make their money back most the time on topups / recharges.
The Philippines is also giving free sim cards for international travellers.