Planning to use Lycamobile in India? You can activate roaming, but it involves setup steps and high costs. Here’s what you need to know, plus a simpler option that most travelers prefer.
Does Lycamobile Work in India?
Yes, Lycamobile supports roaming in India by connecting to local networks like Airtel, Jio, or Vi. However, there are a few important things to understand:
You must activate roaming manually—it’s not automatic. Roaming rates also vary significantly by your home country, so UK Lyca plans differ from US or EU plans. The biggest concern is data charges, which can become extremely expensive without purchasing roaming bundles.
How to Activate Lyca Roaming
Enable roaming before your flight using one of three methods. The fastest option is dialing a USSD code:
- Dial #139710# or *131# (the exact code varies by region)
- Select “Activate Roaming” from the menu
- Wait for SMS confirmation
Alternatively, you can activate online by logging into the Lycamobile app or website. Navigate to Manage Services → Roaming and toggle it ON. If you prefer speaking with someone, call Lycamobile customer service in your home country and request roaming activation for India. When calling, ask about roaming bundles to avoid high pay-per-use rates.
Important: Activate at least 24-48 hours before departure to ensure it processes in time.
Phone Settings You Need to Check
After landing in India, your phone needs correct settings to connect. Here’s what to verify:
| Setting | What to Do |
| Data Roaming | Turn ON in Settings → Mobile Data |
| Network Mode | Set to 4G/LTE or Automatic |
| APN | Use “data.lycamobile.com” (or your region’s APN) |
| Network Selection | If no signal, manually select Airtel or Jio |
If you see “No Service” after landing, try manually selecting a network. Go to Settings → Network Operators → Search Networks, then choose Airtel or Jio from the list. This forces your phone to connect to a specific carrier rather than waiting for automatic selection.
What Lyca Roaming Costs in India
Without a roaming bundle, charges add up extremely fast. Here’s the typical pricing:
- Incoming calls: $0.25–$0.35 per minute
- Outgoing calls: $0.50–$2.00 per minute
- Data: $0.15–$0.25 per MB
- Daily bundles: $5–$10 per day (only 50-200MB data)
Reality check: A 10-minute YouTube video uses about 100MB, which costs roughly $20 in data charges without a bundle. Background app updates—email syncing, photo backups, social media refreshing—can easily rack up $50-100 in charges daily without you even realizing it.
To avoid bill shock, purchase a roaming bundle before arriving. Even with bundles, expect to pay $5-10 per day for very limited data allowances.
Common Problems and the Better Solution
Even after proper activation, travelers frequently encounter frustrating issues. Your phone might show “No Service” or “Emergency Calls Only” when you land, requiring manual network selection. Sometimes calls work but data doesn’t, which usually means Data Roaming isn’t enabled or APN settings are incorrect.
In other cases, roaming was supposedly activated but still doesn’t work, requiring a complete phone restart or contacting Lyca support while you still have WiFi access. The most frustrating problem is unexpected charges—you thought you purchased a bundle, but you’re being charged pay-per-use rates because the bundle didn’t actually activate properly.
Most travelers find an India eSIM from esimindia.net far simpler and cheaper. There’s no activation complexity—just scan a QR code with no USSD codes or APN settings to configure. The costs are significantly lower: $10-15 for a week versus $35-70 with Lyca roaming bundles. You get vastly more data too, with up to 20GB daily instead of the 50-200MB that roaming bundles typically offer.
The eSIM works the moment you land with no waiting period, and you get full 4G/5G speeds on the same premium networks Indians use. You can keep your Lycamobile number active for important calls while using the eSIM for all internet needs—getting the best of both options.
How to Get an India eSIM (5 Minutes)
Getting set up takes just five simple steps:
1. Visit esimindia.net and choose a plan based on your trip length:
- 7 days with 10GB: ~$10
- 14 days with 20GB: ~$15
- 30 days with 50GB: ~$25
2. Pay securely online with any credit or debit card, and you’ll receive your QR code via email instantly.
3. Install the eSIM before departure or after landing. The process is similar across devices:
- iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM
- Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM
- Google Pixel: Settings → Network & Internet → Add eSIM
Scan the QR code from your email, and installation completes in seconds.
4. When you land in India, simply turn on Data Roaming for the eSIM only (not your Lycamobile SIM), and you’re connected immediately without any further setup.
Is Your Phone eSIM Compatible?
Most modern smartphones from 2019 onward support eSIM. Compatible devices include:
- iPhone XS and all newer models (except those from Mainland China)
- Samsung Galaxy S20+, S21, S22, S23, S24 series
- Samsung Z Fold3+, Z Flip3+ and newer foldables
- Google Pixel 4 and all newer Pixel phones
Devices that don’t support eSIM include iPhone 8, iPhone X and earlier, some carrier-locked US phones, and budget Android devices.
Quick check: Go to Settings → Mobile Data on your phone. If you see an “Add eSIM” option, your device supports it. You can also verify your exact model at esimindia.net’s compatibility checker before purchasing.
Bottom line: Lyca roaming works but requires manual setup, costs $35-140 for 1-2 weeks, and risks connectivity issues or unexpected charges. An India eSIM from esimindia.net costs $10-25 for the same period with significantly more data, instant activation, and zero technical headaches. Order online before your flight, scan a QR code, and land in India already connected with reliable high-speed internet.