Going abroad? Vi offers free roaming for up to 3 trips a year

Vodafone Idea on Friday announced free international roaming on select postpaid, prepaid and enterprise plans, allowing eligible customers to stay connected while travelling across more than 170 countries without paying a separate roaming charge.

The telecom operator, under its 'Vi Pe Sab Hain VIP' campaign, said that the new benefit is available for up to three international trips a year, depending on the plan. Customers will get different international data and outgoing calling allowances, with Vi claiming potential savings of up to Rs 9,000 a year.

For travellers, the move could remove the need to buy a separate international roaming pack, switch to a local SIM or use a travel eSIM while abroad. Customers can also continue using their Vi number for calls and OTPs while travelling.


Vodafone Idea's shares were trading at Rs 14.27 apiece, up 1.06% on Friday as of 12.05 PM.

The move comes as other telecom operators increasingly look to premiumise their customer base by offering higher-value plans and services beyond basic connectivity. Operators are using bundled benefits, larger data allowances and lifestyle services to encourage customers to move to higher-priced plans and deepen revenue from existing users.

Vi said the benefit is available on select postpaid plans starting at Rs 501, annual prepaid unlimited data plans and enterprise plans starting at Rs 451. Customers can activate the service through the Vi App by selecting the eligible international Roam-Free plan.

“Traditionally, international roaming has meant buying a pack or an additional purchase of a new local SIM or a travel eSIM and mostly perceived as expensive. We are taking a disruptive approach by making international roaming as a built-in benefit on our key Vi plans. It is a simple but significant shift from ‘buy roaming when you travel’ to ‘your Vi number travels with you for free.’ This is exactly what 'Vi Pe Sab Hain VIP' stands for. Identifying a real customer pain point and solving it through a disruptive, meaningful benefit for every Vi consumer, making them feel valued,” said Avneesh Khosla, chief marketing officer, Vi.

The company said the offer is aimed at individual, family and business travellers.

The operator has also launched a new commercial featuring Shah Rukh Khan to promote the proposition. In the film, Khan initially assumes that Vi has made international roaming free only for him before the message reveals that the benefit is available to all eligible customers.

Vi said customers can use the same Indian mobile number while travelling instead of managing multiple SIMs or relying on public Wi-Fi for connectivity.

The company described the move as an attempt to make international roaming a built-in benefit rather than an additional service that customers need to purchase before travelling.