Hello,
I am taking my Nokia T-Mobile/Virgin activated mobile phone to India and want to buy an Indian (pay as you go?) SIM card.
If someone has any advice on which network provider/ a shop that provides them / how much I should expect to pay, I would very much appreciate it.
Staying in Paharganj so anywhere somewhere in walking distance would be most useful.
Thank you
Jim
jimmyrivers
2
antipest
Sorry, I can't help you directly your specifics except to remind you that you will have to make sure your phone is 'unlocked' before it will accept foreign sim cards.
There are loads of shops/stalls etc selling sim cards everywhere in India and the cost of International calls are very cheap compared to the £1.10 a min charged by those rip-off merchants at Vodafone for a India-UK call!
3
skar
hey...I just bought a Hutch (name of company) SIM card for 500 rupees. There are lots of "offers" going on at any specified time so just ask the shop guy to recommend one for your needs. The 500 rupees included the SIM card and 250 air time. I haven't made any international calls on it yet so don't know rates. Also, I was asked to register my name and address and a photo (this is for security reasons) so be prepared.
4
jomcarroll
Be careful - you will need all the identification you possess, and - from my experience - I'm not sure it was used confidentially. I bought a BSNL card, to begin with, that turned out to be a re-used card - I was gettin up to 13 unidentified calls a day on it (I didn't answer them). And then, although I had been assured it would work all over India, it wouldn't send or receive international texts once I was outside Uttar Pradesh (where I bought it.)
Gave up, and a friend in Mumbai came with me to buy a Hutch card, which has been fine - but you have to remember to activate national roaming (49 rupees a month) if you plan to go outside the state you bought it in - the instructions are not in the manualo - text ACT NR to 144, before you roam, and that should do it. It may take a couple of tries before the computer registers you.
Like everything here, it is more complicated than you think it's going to be!
jo
5
anonymous
Jomcarroll and all others who want new connection. Pls NOTE: there is NO roaming Charge anymore charged on any SIM Card. When you are roaming,the incoming call is Rs.1.75 and outgoing call is Rs.1.45.
Secondly,there is no problem in purchasing SIM card,if you are providing your Identity. So go and purchase from any provider.AIRTEL, HUTCH and IDEA. regarding BSNL...Its a Goverment service provider so its Customer service is not good otherwise it is available all over India.
Go for private players like Airtel,hutch or Idea...
6
achroi
Bought BSNL Cell One prepaid sim card in Tamil Nadu - calls much cheaper, but no international sms (incoming or outgoing) or voicemail possible. Also, when I moved to Uttaranchal, I discovered that I could not buy recharge card here - should have brought it from Tamil Nadu. BSNL are more strict about purchasing sim card - they look for proof of address etc.
I also bought an Airtel prepaid sim card - even though the calls are more expensive, it is much more straightforward - none of the above problems apply.
In relation to both, you incur roaming charges as soon as you move to a different state.
Pro tip
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