Vodafone Idea launches free international roaming with mobile, enterprise plans

Vodafone Idea (Vi) on Friday launched free international roaming services, integrated into its postpaid, prepaid, and enterprise plans. This proposition allows customers and their family members to stay connected across more than 170 countries without incurring additional roaming charges.

The offering is designed to address longstanding customer pain points related to international travel connectivity, such as managing multiple SIM cards, unexpected bills, and reliance on public Wi-Fi. Vi’s new strategy simplifies overseas connectivity, providing free international roaming for up to three trips annually, with varying data quotas and outgoing minutes of usage.

Customers can activate these “Roam-Free” plans through the Vi App. The eligible postpaid plans start at ₹501, corporate plans for enterprise consumers begin at ₹451, and the offering is also available with annual prepaid unlimited data plans. This initiative is projected to save customers up to ₹9,000 per year, aiming to enhance subscriber retention and acquisition for Vi.

“For years, international roaming has felt like a major hassle…today, we are changing that for good. We are making international roaming free depending on the plan you choose. Your Vi number now travels with you for free. We are introducing a bold plan. International roaming built into Vi’s select postpaid and prepaid plans,” Vi CEO Abhijit Kishore wrote in a letter to the telco’s subscribers.

Avneesh Khosla, chief marketing officer (CMO), Vi, said in a statement separately, “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 a built-in benefit on our key Vi plans.”