Vodafone Idea announces free international roaming offer with select plans

As per the latest business developments, Telecom operator Vodafone Idea on Friday announced a free international roaming offer with select postpaid, prepaid and enterprise plans, and stated it aims to democratise roaming access for global travellers with the disruptive proposition.

As stated by the firm, customers across eligible plans can avail free international roaming and other benefits with postpaid plans starting at Rs 501, annual prepaid unlimited data plans and corporate plans starting at Rs 451 (for enterprise consumers).

Announcing the free international roaming benefit with key postpaid, prepaid and enterprise plans, VIL in a release stated: "With this breakthrough offering, customers and their family members can now stay connected while travelling globally, across 170 plus countries, for free".

The telco noted that for decades, staying connected while travelling internationally involved dealing with multiple SIM cards, buying local or travel SIMs before departure, losing the convenience of using one's Indian mobile number, missing critical OTPs, relying on unsecured public/free Wi-Fi, navigating tedious documentation, or worrying around unexpected roaming bills.

"Vi (VIL) has now bundled Free International Roaming into its plans, making international connectivity simple, inclusive, seamless and worry-free," it stated.

Based on the plan, postpaid, prepaid and enterprise customers can get free international roaming for up to three trips in a year, with varying international data quotas and outgoing minutes of usage; an offer, it claimed, could result in savings of up to Rs 9000 per year.

In a note to customers, Abhijit Kishore, CEO of Vodafone Idea, stated that for years, international roaming has felt like a major hassle, with people either switching off mobile data entirely or hunting for free Wi-Fi just to send a basic message.

A quick phone call or checking a route on Google Maps could suddenly cost more than a cab ride, he stated.

"We are introducing a bold plan. International roaming built into Vi's select postpaid and prepaid plans," Kishore stated.