Prepaid BSNL Roaming That International Travellers Can Choose

After launching the International Roaming Facility on Postpaid connections, BSNL launched the International roaming facility for all the prepaid customers. So now, both BSNL Prepaid and Postpaid users can avail the International Roaming Facility on your number. However, if you are primarily looking for outgoing and incoming calls from the International location, we recommend BSNL wings connection, which is cost-effective and can help you to save more.

Avail BSNL Roaming For International Trips

BSNL international roaming facility is available to its prepaid customers of all the circles in India. Initially, the service was available in 14 countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, USA, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Ukraine, Mozambique, and Ethiopia. Now, BSNL extended the roaming country list for its prepaid customers and added more country's telecom networks as the roaming partners. The service is provided to all prepaid subscribers without any deposit or rental. The only thing users need to do is get the International Roaming facility enabled SIM card for their number to get the service activated.

How to Activate International Roaming Facility on BSNL Number ?

Though the service is activated free, BSNL customers have to do one thing to get it activated. Existing prepaid customers need to get a duplicate SIM card for their number to get it activated. Unlike other providers such as Airtel, Jio, etc., BSNL was not provided their customers with the SIM card that supports International Roaming Facility. So, all the BSNL users who hold an old SIM card need to take a new dual IMSI SIM card that supports International Roaming. To get a BSNL Prepaid International roaming facility on your SIM card, the SIM card should support dual IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity). Still, the existing BSNL sim card only supports a single IMSI, and users need to get the new sim. But make sure that you are not getting the latest 4G SIM card, as the new BSNL 4G SIM doesn't support International Roaming. You can check more details here.

How to get Dual IMSI SIM that supports BSNL Roaming?

1. Head over to the nearest customer care center of BSNL with any valid ID card.
2. Ask them to provide a duplicate SIM card for your number, don't forget to mention that you are taking the duplicate SIM to activate International Roaming.
3. Pay a charge of Rs. 10 for issuing the duplicate SIM.
4. The SIM card will be activated within a few minutes, and your old SIM card will get disconnected.
5. Now, the IR facility is enabled on your BSNL Prepaid Mobile Number.

Note: Make sure with the customer care that you are provided with Dual IMSI SIM Card. Unless the roaming does not work now, you can use your BSNL mobile number in the supported countries. Some users informed us that you need to submit the Passport copy to get the IR-enabled SIM card. We contacted customer care to clarify it. Passport copy is not mandatory to get the new dual IMSI sim card. You can get it with any valid photo ID card. If you are an NRI and have the only passport as a valid Indian ID card, you can use your passport to get the SIM card. Please note, the service will be activated free, and to make and receive calls while you are abroad, you have to pay for it, and it varies from country. Only incoming SMS will be free. All outgoing and incoming calls and outgoing SMS will be charged per the tariff applied to corresponding countries. BSNL recently introduced an International Roaming pack, which is mandatory to avail the International Roaming facility on Prepaid numbers. Initially, the IR pack was priced at Rs. 58, which gives a validity of 30 days. So if you wish to have the service even after 30 days, you need to recharge again with the 58 Pack.

Not able to send SMS to 123 to activate International Roaming

It is also to be noted that SMS to short numbers like 123, 53733, etc., can only be sent from India on your BSNL number. SMS to regular mobile numbers are possible if you have a balance for a Roaming outgoing SMS, but a short number SMS won't work. So, please don't try to never the IR pack with your Talktime balance by sending SMS to 123. Always do online recharge for activation and renewal of IR pack.

Is the BSNL International Roaming Better than Other Service Like Jio and Airtel?

BSNL is offering an excellent international roaming service these days. If you wish to use the BSNL SIM in the United States, UK, Canada, or any other country, you may not find any big issues. However, while comparing the International service of other providers like Jio or Airtel, we cannot say that BSNL is the best option. Airtel offers a stable and reliable international roaming service with some International Packs. But, on the other hand, Jio international Roaming is very cheap, and you can find a home-like experience while using your Jio Number, even in the UK, US, or the middle east. Moreover, Jio's International roaming service will let you make calls to India and receive calls from India at a low price of Rs. 2 per minute, which is the lowest International Roaming charge in the world. If you wish to use the BSNL SIM itself and are not comfortable porting the number to another network before your journey, you can use the BSNL SIM without any issues.

Currently i am not in India and Can i activate International Roaming on my BSNL SIM?

If you use the latest Dual IMSI Sim card, you can use the BSNL international Roaming service by activating it from outside India. On the other side, if you are using a non-IMSI SIM card, it cannot be used for International Roaming. In that case, you need to take the duplicate SIM from the BSNL office during your Next Visit to India. If that is your case, you can take the BSNL Wings connection and use the International Roaming service at a very low cost. Moreover, You can activate BSNL Wings connection online from any part of the world.