Airtel 3G SIM card in Dehli/Leh/Manali
Replies: 7 - Last Post: Nov 23, 2011 1:26 PM Last Post By: knowlman
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Airtel 3G SIM card in Dehli/Leh/Manali
Hi all,Am I available to buy a sim card? I'm a non-indian traveller and I'm going Delhi -> Manali -> Leh and surrounding areas from 9 to 24 Jul. I want to get a 3G sim card so I will be able to access the internet through my phone (i'm going to check and reply some important emails) during that period of time.
My friend told me that she was not able to buy a sim card because she is not indian and the local authorities are worried of terrorist. If i'm available to buy, any of you can advise me which package/plan of Airtel I should get for 3 a period of weeks? And how is the signal reception in Leh and Manali areas?
Thank you.
2
To buy a simcard in India you need a local adress proof. That means of an Indian adress. As a tourist you do not have an Indian adress proof. So you will not be able to buy a sim card as a tourist (non-resident).Until five years ago it was possible to buy an Indian (pre paid) sim card as a tourist without a local adress proof. But after bombings in Delhi and the Taj Mahal catastrophe it is since a few years impossible to buy a sim card without a local adress proof.
Concerning reception of signals (the mobile network), TATA (and not Airtel) has the better reception in remote areas.
3
Hi NepalIndia Traveller,In previous threads, some could get a sim card by giving 2 photos, copies of passport, indian visa, and hotels address; however in some cases, hotel address is not accepted as well. Sometimes, the sim card store does not send our documents to verify and the service to our number is terminated.
Is it possible for me to get a sim card with a testimonial from my Indian friend (she can only help me with a testimonial because she is not in india at the moment), together with the above documents?
4
Anyone can get a sim card with proper docs that will last a week or so. If you really searched the threads, you`d have seen this.Sit still a few days, go to a company store, submit good docs with residence info, and get a card that can have your physical presence verified.
Short of that, it`s likely to happen.
5
I bought a SIM card at the airport in Delhi last November, no problems at all. Went to the Airtel counter and the only address they wanted was my Delhi hotel address. They photocopied my passport and I gave them a passport photograph though they will take a picture of you if necessary. So unless things have changed tremendously for foreigners, it is actually possible to get a SIM card, so it isn't really true that foreigners have not been allowed to get a SIM for years.6
The last time I was in India (summer 2010) my (non-Indian) boyfriend bought a SIM card in Calcutta. They asked for the hotel address, room number, passport and a photo. It worked fine for our 6 week trip here.We are now in India again (Oct 2011) and he bought another SIM card in Delhi, and they asked for the same as before. The SIM card is working fine.
Both times it took awhile to conclude the purchase and activate the card - probably about an hour or 2 each time.
So it is possible for foreigners to buy SIM cards in India; it was possible in 2010 and it is possible now.
And no, I have no connection to Pirate whatsoever!
