International roaming long term?

[theglobalinvestor]

Any hacks for international roaming? We will need roaming enabled for banking transactions and OTP etc. Cost is approx 7k per month. We are 4 of us and will be abroad for 3-4 months. That's 28k per month or a whopping 1L+ total roaming cost.

Any hacks or tricks to avoid this? Any sms forwarding service or similar? Can't change number with all banks etc.

 

[hariselio]

isn't incoming messages are free in international roaming?

 

[theglobalinvestor]

isn't incoming messages are free in international roaming?

Yes, but only if you take a roaming plan.

 

[gurbina]

No info on bank or mobile provider. It's vital to help you out with a solution.

Some banks offer OTP via email i.e. Axis. Perhaps take a credit card or bank account from them with the add-on for family.
For some mobile providers receiving SMS is free when overseas, seems like Airtel offers this to prepaid users.

If you have the option to be charged for receiving SMS then why pay for the roaming package unless you do more than dozens of online transactions weekly which will rack up to these sky high roaming charges.

 

[theglobalinvestor]

No info on bank or mobile provider. It's vital to help you out with a solution.

Some banks offer OTP via email i.e. Axis. Perhaps take a credit card or bank account from them with the add-on for family.
For some mobile providers receiving SMS is free when overseas, seems like Airtel offers this to prepaid users.

If you have the option to be charged for receiving SMS then why pay for the roaming package unless you do more than dozens of online transactions weekly which will rack up to these sky high roaming charges.

Multiple banks... SBI, HDFC, AXIS, etc. Business banking through corporate apps/netbanking. Requires multi-user authentication via OTP. No email option.

Telecom provider is VI and AIrtel.

The problem with not taking a roaming package is most times SMS/OTP don't get delivered while roaming without a package. Per my past experience. Once you activate a roaming package all delivery issues are miraculously solved.

 

[hariselio]

Yes, but only if you take a roaming plan.

not sure about postpaid plans, but in prepaid its not true. i've used airtel prepaid for two years without taking any additional roaming plan. All i had to do was to make some phone calls every two months or so to keep the number active. And i did not had any issues in receiving OTPs.

As of now, one of my friend is using airtel prepaid yearly(1799) plan in US. His number is still active as i see! (i've registered that number in my airtel account for recharges, so i can see its active)

EDIT: Confirmed with my friend, he receives OTPs without any trouble.

 

[theglobalinvestor]

Hmm....interesting...we're all on postpaid plans.

 

[chasni]

Hmm....interesting...we're all on postpaid plans.

Incoming SMS is free on roaming on postpaid too. I have been abroad for 2-3 weeks and it worked fine. Not sure about 3-4 months.

 

[Wealth is my birth right!]

Incoming SMS is free on roaming on postpaid too. I have been abroad for 2-3 weeks and it worked fine. Not sure about 3-4 months.

max to 1 month it will work then it gets stopped if without package.
my SIL has experienced in UAE this scenario

 

[ltf4ever]

not sure about postpaid plans, but in prepaid its not true. i've used airtel prepaid for two years without taking any additional roaming plan. All i had to do was to make some phone calls every two months or so to keep the number active. And i did not had any issues in receiving OTPs.

As of now, one of my friend is using airtel prepaid yearly(1799) plan in US. His number is still active as i see! (i've registered that number in my airtel account for recharges, so i can see its active)

EDIT: Confirmed with my friend, he receives OTPs without any trouble.

my experience is different (2019).
prepaid plan, didn't have any roaming enabled, and did not get any sms about transactions for 2 days.
had to open the airtel app using hotel wifi, buy an international roaming plan, and instantly the Sms started coming.

 

[DRSYEDIRFAN]

Any hacks for international roaming? We will need roaming enabled for banking transactions and OTP etc. Cost is approx 7k per month. We are 4 of us and will be abroad for 3-4 months. That's 28k per month or a whopping 1L+ total roaming cost.

Any hacks or tricks to avoid this? Any sms forwarding service or similar? Can't change number with all banks etc.

Airtel doesn't charge for incoming SMS, I was outside of India for 6years with my Airtel sim card, it received messages. sometime delivering the message might get delayed but it will be delivered , just make sure to keep it active by sending one message from your number to another Indian number everymonth (it might cost you Rs 25/message) and normal recharge plan. that wil do good.

 

[avishj]

I can confirm Airtel prepaid allows you to recieve SMS, friends used it in Canada for 3ish months no issues. I on the other hand in Jio, didn't get shit, atleast they have coverage via international partners, I got 0 network.

 

[Wealth is my birth right!]

I can confirm Airtel prepaid allows you to recieve SMS, friends used it in Canada for 3ish months no issues. I on the other hand in Jio, didn't get shit, atleast they have coverage via international partners, I got 0 network.

then time to look back the ported airtel nos at my home to jio for their attractive 4g plans some years back to airtel again

 

[avishj]

then time to look back the ported airtel nos at my home to jio for their attractive 4g plans some years back to airtel again

Feeling the same, soon going to need that intl. roaming SMS's. It was such a pain while I was in Canada this summer.

 

[hks789]

For BSNL 1 month roaming plan is 57rs. Used it last month in Turkey & Oman, Received messages without much delay.
Jio was a disappointment, will only receive SMS if you do a roaming pack of 1100ish per month

 

[TheTrickySid]

For BSNL 1 month roaming plan is 57rs. Used it last month in Turkey & Oman, Received messages without much delay.
Jio was a disappointment, will only receive SMS if do a roaming pack of 1100ish per month

LoL, BSNL working good outside of india instead of working good inside India 😂

 

[hks789]

LoL, BSNL working good outside of india instead of working good inside India 😂

Surprisingly they have tie-ups with telecom companies in most countries.
Btw you have to replace your existing SIM with a roaming-capable SIM from a nearby BSNL office. That was like 50rs something.

 

[Wealth is my birth right!]

So airtel is the winner in intl roaming
FYI 6 nos at my home 4 are jio and an airtel other VI mobile

 

[avishj]

For BSNL 1 month roaming plan is 57rs. Used it last month in Turkey & Oman, Received messages without much delay.
Jio was a disappointment, will only receive SMS if do a roaming pack of 1100ish per month

Might port over to BSNL for this, seems quite manageable in this case

 

[avishj]

So airtel is the winner in intl roaming
FYI 6 nos at my home 4 are jio and an airtel other VI mobile

Airtel I would choose too, but the coverage even with my parents corp plan is trash af. Calls don't come even in the middle of the damned city.