Hello guys, are you looking for affordable international connectivity while traveling abroad? Look no further than BSNL international roaming plans, tailored to meet the needs of indian travelers, students, and expatriates.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India’s trusted state-run telecom provider, offers both prepaid and postpaid international roaming services designed to keep you seamlessly connected across borders.
Whether you are visiting for business, studies, or a vacation, the BSNL international roaming pack is now available in 18 countries, including Germany, France, Greece, Malaysia, Japan, and the UAE, ensuring reliable coverage without hefty price tags common with other carriers.
While in the market, several telecom operators like Jio, Airtel & Vi offer high-cost roaming tariffs and inconsistent global services, BSNL international roaming plans stand out for being affordable, reliable, and convenient.
In this guide, you may discover some exciting BSNL’s best international roaming plans options, along with taking a look at Vi international roaming plans & Jio international roaming plans for comparison.
List of BSNL International Roaming Plans
BSNL provides its international roaming services across 476 networks in 195 countries, having partnerships with different telecom operators worldwide. For instance, it connects via T-Mobile in the US, Hutchison 3G in the UK, and Optus and Telstra in Australia. Since these services rely on foreign network providers, the charges vary accordingly.
Unlike most other Indian telecom providers, which allow continued use of the same SIM. Both prepaid and postpaid BSNL users need to switch to a dedicated international roaming SIM before traveling abroad.
The applicable charges may be different for each operator, and the latest rates are available on the BSNL official website. Here is the list of international roaming packs offered by BSNL.
Prepaid customers need to activate their international roaming services by recharging with either STV Rs.57 or Rs.167. Postpaid users should submit a service request form along with proof of a valid ID and a security deposit to enable international roaming services. Additionally, BSNL imposes a monthly fee of Rs 99 on top of the actual roaming charges.
Likes to read these posts: BSNL VIP Number: BSNL Fancy Number Booking | BSNL 599 Recharge Plan: Is it BSNL’s Best 4G Value Pack?
BSNL Roaming Plans For 1-3 Days
| Country | Pack Cost | Validity | Calls | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | ₹511 | 1 Day | NA | 200 MB |
| UAE | ₹497 | 1 Day | NA | 100 MB |
| Sri Lanka, Canada, Iceland | ₹659 | 1 Day | NA | 50 MB |
| Bhutan | ₹895 | 1 Day | NA | 200 MB |
| Mauritius | ₹705 | 1 Day | NA | 200 MB |
For short international trips, data packs vary widely by destination. Among these five short-trip international roaming packs, Singapore and Mauritius offer 200 MB of data per day, ideal for basic browsing and messaging. Whereas the UAE pack provides 100MB of data and other countries’ packs, like Sri Lanka and Canada, offer a modest 50MB of data, making them suitable for minimal use.
BSNL International Roaming Plans for 7 Days
| Country | Pack Cost | Validity | Calls | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | ₹1,379 | 7 days | 140 Minutes | NA |
| UAE | ₹2,199 | 7 Days | NA | 100MB |
| Sri Lanka, Canada, Iceland | ₹3,495 | 7 Days | 100 Minutes | 500 MB |
| Mauritius | ₹2,875 | 7 Days | 100 Minutes | 1GB |
| Bhutan | ₹2,895 | 7 Days | 175 Minutes | 500MB |
| Germany, France, Greece, Malaysia, Japan (18+ Countries) | ₹1,799 | 7 Days | 10 Minutes | 1GB & 5 SMS |
Travelers to Singapore, Bhutan, and Mauritius get 200MB of data for seven days, ideal for light data users. UAE offers 100 MB while Sri Lanka, Canada, and Iceland provide only 50 MB, perfect for light data users. Remeber, all packs offer a validity of 7 days.
BSNL International Roaming Packs for 28 Days
| Country | Pack Cost | Validity | Calls | Data |
| Singapore | ₹279 | 28 days | NA | NA |
| Singapore | ₹2,311 | 28 Days | NA | 2 GB |
| Mauritius | ₹3,905 | 28 Days | NA | 1.5 5B |
| Bhutan | ₹4,865 | 28 Days | NA | 500 MB |
From the above, BSNL international roaming packs with 28-day validity. Singapore visitors can choose between a basic plan with no data. or an upgraded pack offering 2GB of data, which is suitable for light browsing and communication. Travelers to Mauritius get 1.5 GB of data, offering moderate usage over a month.
Meanwhile, Bhutan travelers with preferred packs get 500MB, which is ideal for essential use like emails or messaging. These long-duration packs cater to different usage needs based on destination.
BSNL 1 Month International Roaming Plans
| Country | Pack Cost | Validity | Calls | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Roaming | ₹57 | 30 days | NA | NA |
| International Calling | ₹65 | 30 days | ₹1.49 to ₹9.50 per minute, depending on the country | NA |
| Bhutan, Greece, Austria, Vietnam, Nepal + 10 more countries | ₹5,399 | 30 Days | 30 Minutes | 3 GB & 15 SMS |
Top International Roaming Packs for Tourists
BSNL customers who are roaming as tourists abroad may need to recharge with a short-term international roaming pack. Tourist may need to follow the BSNL’s process of replacing their SIM with an international roaming SIM.
Here are the best BSNL international roaming plans for overseas tourists.
| Country | Pack Cost | Validity | Calls | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Roaming | ₹57 | 30 days | NA | NA |
| International Calling | ₹65 | 30 days | ₹1.49 to ₹9.50 per minute, depending on the country | NA |
| International Roaming | ₹167 | 90 days | NA | NA |
| Singapore | ₹279 | 28 days | NA | NA |
| Mauritius | ₹3,905 | 28 days | NA | 1.5 GB |
| Bhutan | ₹4,865 | 28 days | NA | 500 MB |
Activating international roaming on BSNL SIM cards is possible by recharging with STV Rs 57. Once activated, users can select their destination country and preferred operator to view international tariffs and choose from available plans provided by the local telecom operator.
While these benefits can be availed by Prepaid users upon recharging with STV Rs 65.
- Voice Calls to Canada, China, Singapore, and the US @ Rs1.49 per minute.
- Voice Calls to Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Hong Kong @ Rs2.49 per minute.
- Voice Calls to Bahrain @₹6.49 per minute.
- Voice Calls to Nepal @₹9.50 per minute.
- SMS @₹3 per SMS.
Best BSNL Roaming Plans for International Students
1. BSNL international roaming plans are helpful for students going abroad, allowing them to stay connected with family during their initial days. Since most students eventually buy a local SIM, a long validity is not necessary.
2. Before Departure, Students must replace their BSNL SIM with an international roaming SIM and activate roaming by subscribing to STV ₹57 or ₹165, followed by purchasing their chosen IR pack. However, there are no student-specific packs offered.
Best Roaming Plan for NRIs
| Country | Pack Cost | Validity | Calls | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Roaming | ₹167 | 90 days | NA | NA |
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) can continue using their indian bank account and related services by receiving SMS on their indian mobile number while overseas. BSNL offers international roaming that enables free incoming SMS abroad.
To maintain the IR facility, NRIs should recharge their BSNL SIM every 90 days from outside India. Additional charges apply for voice and data usage.
How to Activate International Roaming on BSNL?
BSNL has partnered with several telecom operators in different countries for its international services, enabling indian customers to access international roaming while traveling abroad. To activate these services, users must replace their regular SIM cards with one that supports international roaming.
For postpaid users, BSNL requires submission of a service request form with the following documents.
- Two self-attested passport-size photographs
- An attested copy of their passport
- A refundable security deposit of ₹5,000
Additionally, a subscription fee of ₹99 is charged on top of the international roaming usage.
Steps to follow while using international roaming services abroad by all BSNL customers:
- Ensure that your international roaming services are activated. You can also dial the 1503 toll-free number to confirm successful activation.
- After reaching your international destination, switch ON your phone.
- Go to Settings and Menu and tap on the BSNL Mobile, and select Network.
- Choose the international option to view BSNL/Cellone and Partner Network.
- Select BSNL/Cellone – you will receive a message: “Cellone International Selected“.
- Wait for two minutes to connect to the network automatically.
- If the network doesn’t connect on its own, select it manually.
