India

Internet in India

Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling

Guac

Recommended

Reliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.

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Airalo

One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.

Holafly

Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.

Buying a local SIM card ID registration required

Registration

KYC rules are strict: you need your original physical passport (not a copy), a valid Indian visa, proof of local accommodation with a full address (hotels are easier than Airbnb), and a live photo taken by staff at the counter. Postpaid is not available to tourists, and a tele-verification call may be required after the signal first appears.

Tourist plans and prices

Jio's entry travel plan costs around INR 299 (roughly $3.50) for 1.5 GB per day over 28 days; Airtel's equivalent is around INR 349 (roughly $4) with unlimited local calls. Airport kiosks charge more for comparable plans, but India is cheap in absolute terms either way.

Where to buy

Official Airtel or Jio counters in the arrivals hall at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata airports, or authorised carrier stores in cities; small independent shops often turn foreign passports away. Bring cash, since international cards often fail at small shops, and steer clear of street vendors selling pre-activated SIMs.

Airport prices

Roughly 2 to 3 times city prices: about INR 800 to 1,000 at airport kiosks versus INR 300 to 400 at a city shop. The markup buys faster activation, English-speaking staff and near-zero risk of being turned away, which is arguably worth it on arrival day.

Local eSIM

Airtel and Jio both sell eSIMs, but the same KYC applies (original passport, visa, local address, live photo), so a local eSIM skips none of the paperwork. Foreign travel eSIMs work well in cities and tourist areas but can be patchy in remote regions such as Spiti and the Andamans, and cost noticeably more per GB than a local plan.

Local carriers

• Airtel

  Best all-round pick for tourists, with the widest coverage including mountains and rural areas and the smoothest airport sign-up process for foreigners.

• Jio

  Often the fastest 5G in major cities, with competitive entry pricing.

• Vi (Vodafone Idea)

  A shrinking network with spotty coverage, and often hard to get without a local contact. Best avoided.

Frequently asked questions