Travelling abroad? Here's a guide to int'l roaming plans to stay connected

Travelling overseas often requires a lot of planning especially if you dont travel frequently While getting your visa in place is very important finances and luggage secured during their visit people often forget to get their phones connected with ideal travel packs that will allow them to stay connected with people even while they are travelling around the worldWhether youre heading out for a work trip a summer vacation or an extended sabbatical staying connected while abroad is no longer a luxury because it is a necessity not only to show people the beauty around you but also in case of emergenciesFrom navigating foreign cities to handling work calls or sharing travel moments mobile connectivity keeps everything running smoothly In 2025 Indian telecom companies are making it much easier than ever before to roam without worrySeveral telecom operators have launched smarter more affordable international roaming plans to cater to the needs of todays travellers With expanded coverage larger data bundles free incoming calls and added benefits like WiFi calling inflight connectivity and even baggage protection these new plans are designed to keep you seamlessly connectedmdashwherever you landInternational roaming rates are nothing to mess around with so itrsquos important to know what yoursquore on the hook for before you travel abroad With prepaid international roaming plans Indian travellers can enjoy seamless connectivity more than 100 countries mdash without the hassle of buying local SIMs or depending on unsecured WiFiAffordable options Best for oneday tripsIf youre heading abroad for less than 24 hoursmdashsay a business layover or a quick hop across the border mdash Jio is currently offering the most budgetfriendly option at Rs 499 with 250 mb data and 100 minutes of calling Itrsquos ideal for datalight but voiceheavy needs On the other hand Virsquos Rs 495 pack is voicefocused offering 50 minutes of calls and no data making it perfect if youre reachable but not surfing the web At the same time Airtelrsquos Rs 648 plan has 1 gb data with 100 minutes and 10 SMSes Ir also supports instant international activation and 24x7 support via the Airtel Thanks appIn addition the latter also has kiosks at some of the major Indian airports such as Delhi Lucknow Ahmedabad Trivandrum Mangaluru and Chennai For immediate activation plan advice and SIM replacements Jio and Vi both offer autoactivation upon landing so yoursquore connected as soon as you arriveShortterm plans Best for trips up to a monthFor vacations or work assignments spanning a week or more Indias telecom companies offer versatile 30day options Airtelrsquos Rs 2998 pack shines with 10 gb data 300 minutes 20 SMSes and inflight benefits like 250 mb data 100 outgoing minutes and 100 SMSes One plan covers 189 countries with no confusion over which zone or pack to selectmdashincluding transit airportsmdasheliminating the need for multiple packs On the other hand Virsquos Rs 2998 plan offers 5 GB data 200 minutes and access in 124 countriesmdashsufficient for moderate usage and easy connectivity across continents Lastly Jiorsquos Rs 3999 plan gives 4 GB data and 250 minutes making it a decent allrounder especially in global metrosAll three service providers offer usage control and addons via their apps so users can topup data or voice minutes anytime Airtel also includes autorenewal making it ideal for frequent flyersLongterm plans Best for frequent travellers or expatsIf youre a digital nomad expat or frequent flyer longduration plans offer the best value Jiorsquos Rs 2799 pack is the most costefficient with 2 gb data and 100 minutes valid for a full yearmdashperfect for occasional use abroad While Virsquos Rs 2997 plan gives you 15 gb and 125 minutes across 123 countries offering steady accessibility over 365 days Airtelrsquos Rs 4000 plan is a choice with 5 GB global data 100 minutes 100 SMSes and daily 15 GB data with unlimited calls within India for those commuting internationally frequentlyJio and Vi offer appbased usage tracking and support ensuring peace of mind for extended stays Airtelrsquos app allows complete control over usage billing and topups and their longterm plan includes autorenewal removing the need to repurchase packs