FairSIM eSIM for India
India moves on data. Uber and Ola fix the fare before the auto-rickshaw pulls up, IRCTC sells train tickets that exist only on your phone, and every shop from a Delhi chai stall to a Kerala spice market takes a UPI QR code. The e-visa arrives by email; the free airport Wi-Fi wants an Indian number for its OTP.
A FairSIM eSIM for India connects to Airtel or Jio, the two networks with nationwide 5G, at the wholesale rate. Install it at home, turn it on at Indira Gandhi or Chhatrapati Shivaji airport, and you are online before the baggage belt starts.
A local tourist SIM means a passport copy, a visa copy, a photo, a local address and a wait of two hours to a day for activation. Land at midnight and the counter is closed. The eSIM needs none of that.
- CarriersAirtel, Bharti Airtel, Jio
- CompatibilityCheck if eSIM is available on your phone
- No days lostPurchase now, data will start when you arrive
India eSIM plans
Plan starts: On first data use
Coverage in India
- 4G LTE5G
Airtel
Opensignal's 5G speed leader in 2025 at about 212 Mbps, and a common travel eSIM host. Strong in the big cities, Goa and the Himalayan circuits, with Pangong Lake covered since 2024.
- 4G LTE5G
Jio (Reliance)
The largest network with the widest 5G: Jio users had an active 5G connection more than 70% of the time in Opensignal's mid-2025 report. The other travel eSIM host and the best rural reach.
4G nationwide, 5G in every state capital and most cities on Jio and Airtel since 2023
Typical speed: About 130 Mbps median download nationally (Ookla, 2025), faster than most of Europe on paper; busy-hour 5G in Delhi and Mumbai slows as more users join.
Excellent in cities, on the Golden Triangle and in Goa and Kerala. Good in Rajasthan towns and along rail lines, thinner on desert stretches and hill roads. Ladakh and Kashmir have special rules: prepaid SIMs from elsewhere in India do not work, and Hanle and Tso Moriri are BSNL-only, which foreigners cannot buy.
How much data do you need in India?
It depends on how you travel. Find your trip below, then pick the plan that matches. You can always top up in the app.
Golden Triangle first visit
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur in a week to ten days, by train or with a driver.
Why data matters: Uber and Ola, IRCTC e-tickets, timed Taj Mahal slots, Google Translate for signs, and WhatsApp with the driver and guide.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Goa beaches and Kerala backwaters
Two weeks of beach shacks, houseboats and Ayurveda.
Why data matters: Scooter and taxi apps, houseboat bookings, restaurant reservations on WhatsApp, and uploading the sunsets.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Backpacker long haul: Rajasthan, Varanasi, Rishikesh
Four to eight weeks on sleeper trains and in guesthouses.
Why data matters: Train bookings and live running status, hostel reservations, maps in old cities, and a plan that tops up from the app rather than a phone shop.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Ladakh and Himalayan road trip
Leh, Nubra, Pangong and the high passes in summer.
Why data matters: Permits and weather checks in Leh, maps for the valleys, and messages home when signal returns. Prepaid Indian SIMs from other states do not work here; a roaming eSIM on Airtel or Jio does in Leh and the main valleys.
- 7 days
- 3 GB
- 14 days
- 7 GB
- 30 days
- 15 GB
Business trip to Bengaluru, Mumbai or Gurugram
Meetings across a city that takes an hour to cross.
Why data matters: Teams and Zoom from the back of an Uber, Personal Hotspot for the laptop, and Namma Yatri or Ola for the airport run.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
Yoga and wellness stay
Weeks in Rishikesh, Goa or a Kerala ashram.
Why data matters: Video calls home, course bookings, banking, and enough data for the quiet evenings.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
What your home carrier charges in India
Daily roaming passes look small until you multiply them by the length of the trip. FairSIM plans for India start at $6.99 and never bill per day.
| Carrier | Roaming charge | FairSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass (US) | $12 per line per day, 5 GB of high-speed data per day then slower speeds | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| AT&T International Day Pass (US) | $12 per day per line, $6 for each additional line, charged only on the days you use it | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| O2 Travel Bolt On (UK) | £7 per day | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| Vodafone UK | £8 per day, £6 on plans started before 11 August 2021 | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| Rogers (Canada) | C$18 per day with Roam Like Home | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| Orange (France) | Connexion 24h at €8.99 per day, or a Pass Voyage from €9.99 for 3 days; €13.31 per MB without either | from $6.99, no daily fee |
Carrier prices as published on their roaming pages at the time of writing. They change often; check your own plan before you fly.
How FairSIM works
Three steps between you and the internet abroad. Nothing to pick up at the airport.
Pick a destination and a plan
Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.
Tap install
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.
Land and connect
Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.
Connectivity tips for India
Apply for the e-visa at indianvisaonline.gov.in only. The 30-day tourist e-visa is US$25 (US$10 from April to June); one year is US$40, five years US$80.
Land online. Airport Wi-Fi in Delhi and Mumbai asks for an Indian number for its OTP, so switch on the eSIM before you reach immigration.
Want to pay by QR like locals? Set up UPI One World at the airport counter with passport and visa and load it by card. Otherwise cards and cash.
Book trains on IRCTC or ixigo weeks ahead; popular routes sell out. Delhi to Agra by Vande Bharat or Gatimaan is faster than the road.
Going to Ladakh or Kashmir? Prepaid SIMs from elsewhere in India do not work there. A roaming eSIM on Airtel or Jio works in Leh and the main valleys; Hanle and Tso Moriri have no usable signal for visitors.
April to June heat is dangerous on the plains. Plan Rajasthan and Agra for October to March, or head for the hills in summer.
Uber and Ola drivers call to confirm pickup. The eSIM has no number, so message them in the app or keep your home SIM on for calls.
Digi Yatra face check-in is not open to foreign passports yet, so keep your boarding pass and passport handy at domestic airports.
Can you rely on free Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi at airports, railway stations, cafés and hotels is common, and almost all of it sends a one-time password to an Indian mobile number before it lets you on. Hotel Wi-Fi with a room number works; the rest mostly does not for visitors.
Local SIM card or eSIM in India?
Airtel and Jio counters in the arrivals halls at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Goa sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs, and the plans themselves are cheap, often a few hundred rupees for weeks of daily data. The process is the problem.
Every SIM needs KYC: passport, Indian visa, a photo, an Indian address such as your hotel and, at many shops, a local reference. Activation takes two to four hours at the airport and up to a day elsewhere, and nothing happens overnight. A FairSIM eSIM is bought at home, live on landing, and topped up from the app.
India eSIM questions
Does eSIM work in India?
Yes. Unlocked eSIM phones connect to Airtel or Jio 4G and 5G networks with a travel eSIM. Both operators run eSIM for their own customers too, so support is mature.
Which Indian network will I get?
FairSIM plans for India use Airtel, the 5G speed leader, or Jio, the largest network with the widest rural reach. The app shows the network for each plan.
Do I get 5G in India?
Yes, on a 5G phone. Jio and Airtel have 5G in every state capital and most cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Goa and Kochi. Elsewhere you get 4G.
Can I hotspot my laptop?
Yes. Every FairSIM plan supports Personal Hotspot, with no separate cap. Business travellers tethering a laptop should budget an extra 1 to 2 GB a day.
When should I install the eSIM?
Install at home on Wi-Fi and enable the line after landing. Validity typically starts on the first connection in India, which matters if you land after midnight.
Can I make calls and use WhatsApp?
WhatsApp, FaceTime and Messenger calls all work over data. There is no Indian number, so drivers who call will reach your home SIM; keep it active for calls and SMS codes.
How much data do I need for two weeks in India?
Around 10 GB for maps, ride-hailing, WhatsApp and photos; 20 GB or more if you stream or work remotely.
Is a local SIM better than an eSIM in India?
Local plans are cheap, but KYC means passport, visa, photo and an Indian address at a counter, then hours to a day before it works. The eSIM is live on landing and tops up from the app.
Will the eSIM work in Ladakh and Kashmir?
Prepaid Indian SIMs from other states are blocked there, but a foreign roaming eSIM on Airtel or Jio is not a prepaid Indian SIM and works in Leh, Srinagar and the main valleys. Hanle, Tso Moriri and remote passes are BSNL-only or empty. The app shows the network for each plan.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.
Is my phone compatible?
FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer, on iOS 17.4 or later for the one-tap install with no QR code. iPhones bought in mainland China do not support eSIM at all, even when unlocked. Not sure yours is unlocked? Check Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock, or ask your carrier. The full list is on the How it works page.
When should I install my eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?
No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.
