Vodafone Idea (Vi) has introduced free international roaming as a built-in benefit on select postpaid, prepaid and enterprise plans, allowing eligible customers to use their Vi numbers abroad without buying a separate roaming pack.
Free Roaming Available for Up to Three Trips
The new Roam-Free proposition covers more than 170 countries, with eligibility and benefits varying by plan. Customers can use the bundled international roaming benefit for up to three trips a year, with separate data allowances and outgoing calling limits depending on the plan.
The offer is not restricted to premium postpaid customers. Vi said eligible postpaid plans start at Rs 501, while annual prepaid unlimited data plans and enterprise plans starting at Rs 451 are also covered. Customers can check their eligibility and activate the applicable benefit through the Vi app.
Up to Rs 9,000 Annual Savings Claimed
Vi estimates that customers could save up to Rs 9,000 a year through the bundled roaming benefit. The actual saving will depend on the customer’s plan, destination, roaming usage and the number of trips taken.
The included benefits are not unlimited international roaming. Vi is providing specific data quotas and outgoing calling allowances, which vary between eligible plans. Once the applicable allowance is exhausted or the customer’s plan conditions are not met, additional roaming charges or packs may apply.
Vi Wants International Roaming to Become a Built-In Benefit
Avneesh Khosla, chief marketing officer at Vi, said the company is moving away from the traditional model where customers purchase a separate roaming pack when travelling abroad. Vi is instead making international roaming a built-in benefit on selected plans.
The company said the approach is intended to let customers retain their existing Indian Vi numbers while travelling overseas, reducing the need to buy a separate local SIM or travel eSIM for basic connectivity.
Vi’s Move Follows Airtel’s Apple Bundle
Vi’s announcement comes shortly after Bharti Airtel expanded its Rs 999 and higher postpaid plans with Apple’s iCloud+ bundle. Eligible Airtel customers can receive iCloud+ along with Apple TV and Apple Arcade, adding cloud storage, entertainment and gaming benefits to the postpaid proposition.
The two operators are taking different approaches to adding value to higher-end plans. Airtel is using digital services from Apple, while Vi is making international connectivity part of selected plans.
There is no public confirmation that Vi introduced the roaming proposition specifically to respond to Airtel’s Apple partnership. However, both launches arrive within days of each other and add non-core benefits to telecom plans as operators compete for higher-value customers.
What Vi Customers Need to Check
Customers should check the exact plan terms before travelling because the number of trips, international data allowance and outgoing calling quota depend on the eligible plan.
The benefit is therefore better understood as bundled roaming included with selected plans rather than universally free international roaming for all Vi subscribers. Eligible customers can view and activate the applicable Roam-Free benefit through the Vi app.
