BSNL SIM Card a Comprehensive Guide for Tourists

With over 112 million subscribers, BSNL provides affordable connectivity options for locals and visitors alike. Are you planning to go to India and want to get a BSNL SIM card for your travel? This guide will provide a detailed overview of using a BSNL SIM card and eSIM for travel to India.

I. Quick Facts About BSNL

To know more about BSNL, follow some interesting facts below:

• Established in 2000 after the corporatization of Department of Telecom
• Headquartered in New Delhi, India
• Provides fixed line, mobile, internet and more services
• Has over 1.08 lakh kilometers of OFC cable network
• Employs over 1.65 lakh personnel
• Known for affordable calling rates and wide coverage

II. India BSNL Coverage and Speed

1. BSNL Coverage in India

As a state-owned enterprise, BSNL has a broad presence across India. It offers 2G, 3G and 4G services. Here are BSNL coverage map in 2023 India by Opensignal

• 2G: BSNL has nearly 100% coverage across India for 2G. This allows basic calling and texting facilities.
• 3G: 3G networks extend to over 18,000 towns and 450,000 villages. Speeds up to 21Mbps are supported.
• 4G: BSNL launched 4G in 2018 and has expanded to over 130,000 sites. Theoretical speeds up to 100 Mbps can be achieved where 4G is available.

So while high speed 4G is still limited, BSNL ensures connectivity almost everywhere with 2G or 3G. Rural areas are well covered too.

2. BSNL Speed in India

In cities, BSNL data speeds average around 3.4 Mbps for downloads and 1.2 Mbps for uploads. Latency is decent at around 50 ms.

In smaller towns and villages, speeds reduce to 256 Kbps with 2G, and around 10 Mbps on 3G. Latency increases to over 100ms.

So while not the fastest, BSNL 4G speeds are quite usable. And fallback to 3G or 2G ensures connectivity.

III. BSNL Connectivity Options for Travelers to India

As an India traveler, you can choose between these BSNL connectivity options:

Connectivity Option	Pros	Cons
BSNL Prepaid SIM	Inexpensive. No upfront cost.	Documentation required. Activation takes time. Low speeds on 3G network.
BSNL Postpaid SIM	Family plans available. No bill shock.	Credit checks and deposits. Lock-in period. Monthly billing.
BSNL Pocket WiFi	Plug-and-play access anywhere.	Daily/weekly rental fees. Low data speed caps. Heftier security deposits.
BSNL International Roaming	Seamless connectivity across India.	Expensive per minute/data rates while roaming. Plans don’t align with usage.
Public WiFi Zones	Free basic connectivity.	Sparse availability outside metro cities. Usage limits and slow speeds.

BSNL SIM card offer the most convenience and value. eSIMs provide flexibility but have fewer plans. BSNL provides nationwide coverage but performance can vary compared to private operators like Jio or Airtel.

IV. Best BSNL SIM Card for Tourists & Cost

There is a wide range of prepaid BSNL SIM card for travelers. The main options are:

The Tourist SIM offers a good bundle for long tours. World SIM works for short trips under a week. General SIM has the cheapest rate per GB but very limited data.

So BSNL SIMs provide sufficient data, calls and SMS for India travel at affordable rates. Validity extends from 1 to 84 days.

V. Does BSNL India Support eSIM?

Yes, BSNL launched eSIM support in September 2022. It is available on Google Pixel phones and iPhones via the BSNL SIM App.

However, eSIM activation is currently restricted to Indian residents only. International roaming eSIM is not yet open.

VI. Where Can You Buy a BSNL SIM Card and eSIM?

Here are the options to purchase a BSNL SIM card before or after arriving in India:

1. Where to Buy BSNL SIM for India

• Online – On Amazon India, Flipkart, Paytm and other sites
• Airport – At arrival halls of major airports like Delhi and Mumbai
• BSNL Stores – Over 2000 company owned stores across India
• Authorized Retailers – Larger general stores or phone shops

We recommend buying online before arrival for faster activation. E-SIMs can only be activated after reaching India.

2. Where to Buy India BSNL eSIM

Currently, BSNL eSIM is not available for international tourists. When enabled, you may be able to activate BSNL eSIM via:

• BSNL Website – Hopefully allow eSIM activation for foreign tourists
• BSNL App – Expected to provide eSIM activation for iPhones/Pixel phones

So for now, eSIM is not an option. Physical SIM cards are the only choice.

VII. How to Activate India BSNL SIM card/eSIM?

Activating the BSNL SIM and eSIM are fairly easy processes:

1. How to Use India BSNL SIM Card?

• Buy the preactivated BSNL SIM card online or offline
• Insert SIM in unlocked phone
• Dial *123*1# to check main balance
• Start using internet and calling
• Recharge as needed via app or vouchers

2. How to Activate BSNL India eSIM?

• eSIM currently not available for tourists
• When enabled, use BSNL App to scan ID and activate
• Follow onscreen prompts to download eSIM profile
• May need Indian resident status proof

So SIM card activation is simple while eSIM has a few more steps. But eSIM is not an option currently for tourists.

VIII. India BSNL Call & SMS Rates

Here are the standard voice call and SMS rates on BSNL SIM card:

Call Type	Rates (in USD)
Local Mobile Calls	$0.0056/minute
National Calls	$0.0056/minute
Local SMS	$0.00063/SMS
National SMS	$0.00063/SMS
International Calls	$0.056/minute
Incoming Calls	Free

So calling and SMS is very affordable within India. ISD calls are fairly cheap too. Plus free incoming calls make BSNL cost-effective.

IX. Useful USSD Codes for BSNL India SIM card/eSIM

USSD codes help check balance and other information on BSNL SIMs:

• *123*1# – Check main account balance
• *123*10# – Check bonus account balance
• *123*2# – Check data balance
• *123*5# – Special ofer check
• *999# – Find SIM card number

So USSD codes are handy for checking balances quickly without using the app.

X. How to Top-up BSNL India SIM card/eSIM

You can recharge BSNL SIMs using:

• BSNL Selfcare app – Instant top-up via UPI, cards, etc
• Online portals – Like Paytm, Freecharge, Amazon top-ups
• Vouchers – Physical recharge cards from stores

Top-ups start from ₹97 for 1GB data. Combo plans with calls and SMS are also available.

For eSIMs, app-based recharges will be the most convenient when launched.

XI. Alternatives to India BSNL

While BSNL has excellent coverage, other operators like Airtel, Jio and Vi offer faster 4G speeds. You could consider them for better connectivity in major metros and airports.

If you want to have an eSIM for more convenient travel to India, try India eSIM services with only $6-$29.9. India eSIM has many data options for you on short-term or even long-term trips.

For short travel, choose India 5 days eSIM

If you want to stay in India longer, India eSIM 30 days is perfect for you

XII. FAQs about BSNL in India

XIII. Final Words

For visiting India, getting a BSNL SIM card is highly recommended to stay connected across the country at low cost. Coverage extends to rural and remote areas as well. Though not the fastest network, it offers excellent value. eSIM is not yet available for foreign tourists.