New Delhi - Post Report Question and Answers
Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Airtel was fine as local provider. Under $8USD per month for tons of phone and data. - Jun 2024
I use GoogleFi for international travel. If you are a part of a diplomatic mission - Apr 2024
Airtel works fine. Having an India number is good for WhatsApp and the many secondary-validations required for using credit/debit cards and payment apps. - Apr 2024
I think we used Airtel if I'm remembering correctly, but Jio is the better option. All are inexpensive and somewhat unreliable. - Jan 2022
Many options for service providers but towers are overloaded given the huge population of the city, so calls drop all the time. It is usual/expected to be cut-off mid sentence and need to call someone back. Happens all the time. Any unlocked cell phone will work. - Sep 2020
Getting a SIM card as a foreigner is ridiculously annoying. It will likely be your first mind-numbingly-frustrating experience with illogical Indian bureaucracy. You need to show your visa, bring a photo, and provide proof of residence. SIMs don’t activate immediately. And even if you have a long-term diplomatic or business visa, don’t be surprised if you’re told you need to come to the store every three months to show your visa, because they will give you a tourist SIM only valid for three months and require physically seeing your visa before the SIM will be extended. On the plus side, plans are cheap. Mobile cell reception has lots of dead zones throughout the country, including in Delhi and inside many of our homes, so functioning wi-fi is important. - Jul 2020
Local family plans are reasonable for in-country cell usage. I recommend getting a local cell number. - Jul 2019
Few local plans are available with different data usage. It's not pricey. - Oct 2017
You can get phones on the local market easily or bring an unlocked phone from home. There are several providers. As a foreigner, you have to show your passport and visa and have a letter vouching for your address (work can provide this). You can then do prepaid or postpaid. We did prepaid, which meant we loaded money on our account and when it was out, loaded more. I'd send my driver to add more minutes when needed. Postpaid you get a bill each month that you then pay. Prepaid means giving less information, but they are picky about how long you can have the account for. Postpaid you can have it longer. We had issues with cell service inside our house.
- Mar 2017
Local provider with my own unlocked iPhone - dirt cheap! - Feb 2017
Airtel. Local sim cards are really cheap. - Nov 2016
Definitely get a local pre-paid cell phone plan. We used Airtel with no problems for a personal phones. Data plans are cheap by western standards. It takes a couple of days to set up an account (due to security issues), and you have to verify your identity. - Jun 2016
Prepaid SIM cards are available but take a couple days to get activated. Bring a local friend and a copy of your passport. Make sure your U.S. smartphone is unlocked, so you can use it here. Pricing for Mobile & Data service is very competitive here, but due to Indian bureaucracy and restrictions, only 2G and 3G is available. - Sep 2014
Yes, there are lots of options here. You have to make a copy of your passport and visa to get service set up, though. Unlock your phone before you come so you can transfer service. - Sep 2014
They are easy to get and very cheap. - Aug 2013
They are ubiquitous. Coverage is good, but data speeds aren't great. - May 2013
The Prepays work fine. - Oct 2012
Cells phones are good. People use Airtel or Vodaphone. Airtel is more popular because it has a better system and signal. - Sep 2012
Get one, land lines are so last year. - Aug 2011
seem easily available on local economy - Aug 2011
Get a local SIM, roaming charges are insane. - Aug 2011
Get one there. - Jan 2011
Lots of local options - all pretty cheap including 3Band. Don't bring a western phone --or any other electronics-- and expect to get it serviced. On the other hand, you can get your motherboard re-wired down at Nehru Place -- while you wait. - Sep 2010
Everybody has a cell phone here. It is the way to go but be careful giving your number to Indian clients and/or acquaintances. They will call you whenever they feel like it. - Aug 2010
Cell phones are cheap and plentiful. - Aug 2010
There are many different options here, so just go with the one that suits you. - Aug 2010
There are many different options here so just go with the one that suits you. - Mar 2008
Get one. They're cheap, and it's rather like a safety blanket knowing that, should you get separated from your group, you can call them. You have to have documents to get a cell phone though, so have a copy of your passport and a letter from your employer. - Feb 2008
