Originally Posted by
Yaatri
Again, why do you think your situation is typical? For all I know, the guy might have got a SIM against someone ele;s ID. That's a serious offense. I want to be no part of it. What if you do not stay in a hotel?
What you have statewd does not sound like smooth sailing to me.
Getting a SIM card should not be as difficult as it is. Their is rampant fraud, despite the law, which is quite typical of the way things are done in India.
look, I still have the paperwork for my SIM so I know there was nothing nefarious going on with the acquisition of it. This wasn't my first rodeo in the east.
But from reading the indiamike forums from over a year ago and talking to others who have travelled there and travel there more frequently than either of us it isn't like getting a phone in the soviet union in the 90's. And the service isn't as poor as one might expect. I HAD coverage everywhere, but only 3g in cities and some highways. Some people are just better prepared. I had all the apn info I needed prior to arrival (there were only four companies that were possibilities for 3g mobile and data) I knew the requirements for copy of passport/visa/local address, possible roaming restrictions.
I've had more than a dozen people I know go to india in the last year and none of them had issues getting a SIM (especially in Delhi), getting it to work, having connectivity in most areas. (one couple did complain of poor service up in the Himalayas) and actually NONE of them had cards cancelled which seems to have BEEN a problem in the past.