Any update to SIM situation?
Jul 19, 2013 | 11:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 151
Any update to SIM situation?
Hi All-
I just found out that my wife wants to make sure we will have data coverage throughout our trip to India coming up. On this board I am reading that recently the law changed and selling prepaid SIM cards is illegal in India so we might have a little difficulty wiht this. Does anyone have any advice for this?
I was planning on getting a GSM capable device (we are currently verizon people but I see that the GSM coverage is much better in India than CDMA) and trying to get a SIM card when I get there, but not sure that this will be possible.
Any updates to the situation would be much appreciated.
thanks!
I just found out that my wife wants to make sure we will have data coverage throughout our trip to India coming up. On this board I am reading that recently the law changed and selling prepaid SIM cards is illegal in India so we might have a little difficulty wiht this. Does anyone have any advice for this?
I was planning on getting a GSM capable device (we are currently verizon people but I see that the GSM coverage is much better in India than CDMA) and trying to get a SIM card when I get there, but not sure that this will be possible.
Any updates to the situation would be much appreciated.
thanks!
Jul 20, 2013 | 8:48 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: DL Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, ALL Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 30,690
Jul 20, 2013 | 11:28 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: HKG, VCE, CAN
Programs: CX MPO
Posts: 585
perhaps you misunderstood the info...as far as I recall, getting a prepaid SIM by a foreigner requires lot of paperwork and a valid residence address, that if you are staying for few days or weeks is totally disproportionate, hence the best advice is to get it from a local contact in his name (perhaps the hotel in which you stay may arrange one). On the other way I saw the cost for an IDD call to EU to be extremely low, and that was a pleasant surprise.
Jul 21, 2013 | 7:14 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: ORD
Posts: 746
A some what expensive option is
http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=LSIM-IN02
A former colleague has used it but data coverage in remote parts is iffy (they were back packing in the NE).
http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=LSIM-IN02
A former colleague has used it but data coverage in remote parts is iffy (they were back packing in the NE).
Jul 21, 2013 | 5:49 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 151
Thank you for the advice. You guys were correct, I meant to say that selling pre-paid SIM cards was highly restricted and appears to not be worth it for travelers, not that it is illegal. I am quite surprised that they would do this, with all the international business that is conducted in India I would think that they would encourage folks to come over and be able to use their networks.
Jul 22, 2013 | 12:20 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
Call it the war on [whatever]. Crooks, terrorists etc find prepaid SIM cards quite useful and the cops find these difficult to trace.
Not that these new ID requirements help, it is easy enough for them to pay a bum some drinking money and get him to use his ID to buy as many new SIMs as the crook wants.
Not that these new ID requirements help, it is easy enough for them to pay a bum some drinking money and get him to use his ID to buy as many new SIMs as the crook wants.
Jul 22, 2013 | 1:05 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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Posts: 30,690
Thank you for the advice. You guys were correct, I meant to say that selling pre-paid SIM cards was highly restricted and appears to not be worth it for travelers, not that it is illegal. I am quite surprised that they would do this, with all the international business that is conducted in India I would think that they would encourage folks to come over and be able to use their networks.
in the meanwhile there are other ways to get an activated sim by the time you arrive....if you are visiting someone then ask them to get one for you....some hotels are also willing to help so ask your hotel if they can help you out....