New Delhi: Vodafone Idea (Vi) has announced free international roaming for customers on select prepaid, postpaid and enterprise plans, allowing eligible users to use their existing Vi number abroad on up to three international trips a year.

The new Roam-Free benefit covers more than 170 countries, with the amount of mobile data, outgoing calling minutes and validity varying according to the customer’s plan.

Vi says the new benefit could help eligible customers save up to Rs 9,000 a year on international roaming costs. The offer is available on selected postpaid plans starting at Rs 501, annual prepaid unlimited-data plans and enterprise plans starting at Rs 451.

The company said the initiative is aimed at making international connectivity simpler for customers travelling abroad, while allowing them to continue using their existing Vi number instead of purchasing a local SIM or travel eSIM.

Vi Roam-Free benefit explained

The free international roaming benefit has been added to selected existing plans rather than being introduced as a separate roaming pack.

Postpaid customers can access the benefit through eligible plans starting at Rs 501. Prepaid customers can get Roam-Free with selected annual unlimited-data plans, while enterprise customers can access the benefit through corporate plans starting at Rs 451.

However, not every plan at these price points will necessarily offer identical roaming benefits. The amount of data and outgoing calling minutes, along with the validity of the roaming allowance, depends on the specific plan.

The benefit can be used on up to three international trips during a year. Vi says the service is available across more than 170 countries.

This means customers who travel overseas multiple times during the year can use the included roaming benefit on separate trips, subject to the terms and limits of their eligible plan.

Customers can keep their existing Vi number

One of the main advantages of the new offering is that eligible customers can continue using their existing Vi mobile number while travelling internationally.

According to Vi, customers can use the number for services such as receiving one-time passwords and calls while abroad. They can also use mobile data within the limits provided by their plan.

The company says customers do not need to switch to a local SIM or rely on a travel eSIM when using the included roaming benefit.

For people travelling abroad for work, holidays or family trips, retaining the existing number can be particularly useful for accessing banking services and other accounts that depend on SMS-based OTPs.

The actual availability of data and voice services, however, will depend on the customer’s eligible plan and the country they are visiting.

How to activate Vi Roam-Free

Eligible customers can check and activate the benefit through the Vi App before travelling abroad.

The activation process involves opening the Vi App and checking whether the existing plan qualifies for Roam-Free.

Customers can then select the “Roam-Free” option to view the international roaming benefits included with their plan. After checking the available data, calling benefits and other terms, they can activate the service before leaving India.

Vi recommends checking the benefit before travelling so that customers know what their plan includes and can avoid unexpected roaming charges.

Since the allowance varies between plans, customers should also check the applicable country coverage and usage limits before their trip.

Vi says customers can save up to Rs 9,000

Vi has positioned the new roaming benefit as a way to reduce the additional costs associated with international travel.

International roaming can become expensive when customers use mobile data, make outgoing calls or receive calls outside India without an appropriate roaming plan. By including roaming in selected plans, Vi says users can avoid paying separate roaming charges within the limits of their benefits.

The company estimates that eligible customers could save up to Rs 9,000 a year through the new offering.

The actual savings will depend on how often a customer travels, the destination, the duration of each trip and the roaming usage during those trips.

Vi CEO calls roaming a consumer pain point

Vi CEO Abhijit Kishore described the new roaming initiative as an example of the changes the company is seeking to introduce for customers.

“A few days ago, we told you Vi was changing – that this was not just a logo refresh, but a signal that something real was changing inside our company. A promise is only as good as the proof that follows. Today we deliver the first proof of that promise – solving a major consumer pain point,” Kishore said in a message to customers.

The company has been communicating a broader change in its customer proposition, and the free roaming announcement is being presented as one of the first initiatives under that approach.

What customers should check before travelling

While the headline benefit is free international roaming, customers should check the specific terms attached to their plan before travelling.

The three-trip annual limit applies to the Roam-Free benefit, while data and outgoing calling allowances differ depending on the plan. Country availability also needs to be confirmed because roaming benefits are subject to the destinations supported by Vi.

Customers should also activate the benefit before travelling rather than assuming that international roaming will automatically be free simply because they have an eligible plan.

For those who travel internationally several times a year, the inclusion of roaming in an existing prepaid, postpaid or enterprise plan could reduce the need to purchase separate roaming packs.

Vi’s new offer therefore gives eligible customers a way to continue using their existing number overseas while accessing included data and calling benefits, subject to their plan’s limits.