How to Get Mobile Internet While Traveling in India?

India is a 5,000-year old civilization and birthplace of four global religions. India is one of the most diverse countries. The art, architecture, and cuisine of this beautiful country are influenced by many cultures. 

For thousands of years, people with different beliefs have lived in harmony, contributing to India's rich tapestry of traditions and customs. The Taj Mahal, the Himalayas, yoga, meditation, food, and more—there is nothing like traveling all around India. The best thing about traveling to India is that vacationing here is not expensive. Over the past decade, India has witnessed what they call the internet revolution. In 2023, there were 900 million Internet users. 

Internet Cost in India

India is one of the countries with the cheapest internet. Israel has the cheapest internet with $0.04 per gigabyte (GB). India is in the third spot with an average cost of just $0.17 per gigabyte (GB). The most expensive internet is in Zimbabwe with $43.75 per gigabyte (GB).  

Internet Speed in India

The internet speed in India may not be as fast as in countries like UAE, Qatar, and USA, but it is more than reliable. According to the Speedtest Global Index, India gets the 23rd spot when it comes to internet speed. If you are using mobile internet in India, expect a median download speed of 103.75 Mbps, upload speed of 9.65 Mbps, and 30 ms latency. UAE offers the fastest internet with download speeds of 453.87 Mbps, upload speed of 32.69 Mbps, and 19 ms latency. India is one of the 61 countries with 5G technology.

So, don’t worry. You can always stay connected in India.   

Getting Mobile Internet in India 

You can get a prepaid SIM card and if your phone is eSIM-compatible, you can activate an eSIM in India. 

You can buy a prepaid SIM at the airport. Though the procedure of buying and activating a prepaid SIM is simple and smooth, it costs more. You need just your passport to get a local tourist SIM card in India for foreigners at the airport. Before buying a prepaid SIM, don’t forget to compare different packages offered by different providers. 

Most packages offer unlimited free calls and a specific number of SMS messages per day. You can find many retail outlets across India selling prepaid SIM cards. However, they may ask for local address proof and ID. Therefore, it’s best to buy at the airport to avoid unnecessary hassles. And one more thing, getting a SIM in India requires KYC (know your customer) verification. Don’t worry, all of your questions will be answered at the airport outlet.

If you don’t want to wait, you can skip the hassle of buying a prepaid SIM by buying an eSIM. If you are in India for a couple of weeks or months, getting an eSIM is a good idea. An eSIM is a SIM embedded in your phone. All newer phones support eSIMs, so there is no need to swap physical SIM cards. With an eSIM, you can use both postpaid and prepaid phone services. Buying an eSIM in India requires KYC (know your customer) verification. 

International eSIM

You can buy an international eSIM from Numero eSIM before traveling to India. You will be able to access the internet the moment you land in India. Here are the benefits of buying an international eSIM for India.

• No need to buy a local prepaid SIM at the airport

• No local registration required

• Works upon arrival

• Flexible data plans

A data-only eSIM allows you to access mobile data only. If you want to use traditional data, call, and text services, you need a data, voice, and text eSIM. 

Conclusion 

Whether you're on vacation or a business trip, uninterrupted internet access ensures your plans stay on track in India. The Internet here is cheap, stable, and reliable. Mobile data, broadband, public WiFi, and eSIMs, all options are available here. Enjoy your trip to India.