Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Vodafone Idea Makes Roaming Free, Intensifying Telecom Subscriber Battle
Vodafone Idea, also called Vi, has added free international roaming to some mobile plans.
Roaming lets people use their Vi number when they travel to another country.
The benefit covers more than 170 countries.
Customers can use it for a limited number of trips, depending on their plan.
Some plans include data and calling allowances, so the service is not unlimited.
Vi said customers could save as much as Rs 9,000 each year.
People can select the offer using the Vi App.
The company hopes this will attract new customers and keep existing ones.
Other telecom companies may introduce similar benefits to compete.
Vodafone Idea introduced free international roaming on select prepaid, postpaid and enterprise plans across more than 170 countries.
Eligible customers can receive coverage for one to three trips annually, with plan-specific data, calling and validity limits.
Vi said the offering could save customers up to Rs 9,000 a year and can be activated through the Vi App.
The move shifts roaming from a separate purchase toward a bundled mobile-plan benefit, while retaining restrictions based on the selected plan.
Vodafone Idea shares reached Rs 14.32, up 1.56 per cent by 2 pm, as analysts expected rivals to respond.
- Who
- Vodafone Idea and its customers; Vi executives Abhijit Kishore and Avneesh Khosla described the offering, while Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are potential competitors.
- What
- Vi introduced free international roaming as a benefit on selected prepaid, postpaid and enterprise plans.
- When
- The announcement was made on Friday; Vodafone Idea shares reached the reported high by 2 pm.
- Where
- The roaming benefit applies across more than 170 countries.
- Why
- Vi said the plan is intended to simplify overseas connectivity, reduce separate roaming purchases and help attract and retain subscribers.
Vi’s bundled-roaming proposition
Plan limits and competitive concerns
Meaning of “free” roaming
Vi’s bundled-roaming proposition
Vi says international roaming is now a built-in benefit on key plans, eliminating the need to buy a separate roaming pack or local and travel SIM.
Plan limits and competitive concerns
The benefit is available only on selected plans and comes with limits on trips, data, calling, duration and eligibility, so it is not unrestricted roaming.
Impact on the telecom market
Vi’s bundled-roaming proposition
Vi and industry experts say the offering could attract and retain subscribers by making overseas connectivity a differentiated benefit.
Plan limits and competitive concerns
Rivals may respond with their own free or subsidised roaming offers, potentially increasing competitive pressure and giving consumers more options.
- Coverage
- More than 170 countries
- Eligible plans
- Selected prepaid, postpaid and enterprise plans
- Trip allowance
- Up to three international trips a year, depending on the plan
- Potential savings
- Up to Rs 9,000 a year, according to Vi
- Activation
- Customers can choose the international Roam-Free plans through the Vi App
- Plan restrictions
- Benefits vary by plan and may include specified data, calling, trip and validity limits
- Share performance
- Vodafone Idea reached Rs 14.32, up 1.56 per cent by 2 pm
