BSNL international roaming: plans, partner countries and what BSNL publishes

BSNL international roaming in short: no data packs on BSNL’s IR site

As of 14 Oct 2026, BSNL’s international roaming site (ir.bsnl.co.in) lists no data pack. It shows voice-minute plans for Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Bhutan, plus a per-MB data rate for each partner network. Prepaid roaming reaches 101 countries, postpaid 174.

Press reports and social posts mention a “BSNL 167 plan” and other international packs. None of them is listed on ir.bsnl.co.in on 14 Oct 2026. BSNL’s mobile tariff page, read on 12 Oct 2026, lists domestic plans only. That does not prove BSNL sells no such pack. Before you recharge for a trip, ask BSNL customer care on the toll-free number 1503 which BSNL international roaming plan your number can take.

We sell travel eSIMs, so we have an interest here. The table still shows when your operator pack is the better choice.

Activating BSNL roaming on prepaid: STV 1967 and the special IR SIM

BSNL international roaming activation on prepaid has two steps. The home page banner reads: “Recharge with STV 1967 for Activation of prepaid International roaming for 365 days”. The site prints no price beside it. Then you “collect the special International Roaming SIM” from a BSNL Customer Care Centre. BSNL asks you to fill in forms and bring the required documents.

The country pages give that office visit as the way to activate. Plan the BSNL international roaming SIM swap before the trip, not at the airport. Call 1503 before you fly to confirm roaming is on. If no network appears after landing, BSNL’s roaming tips say to go to Menu, open “Cellone or BSNL Mobile”, select Network, then International.

BSNL postpaid roaming: 174 partner countries, pay as you go

BSNL’s postpaid pages show no pack either. They carry the same special IR SIM instruction and a partner list of 174 countries, billed at standard rates. Postpaid bills can run past your credit limit. BSNL’s roaming tips say it “generally does not restrict your usage based on your credit limit”, and the home page warns that charges “may be high with some partners”.

BSNL roaming charges therefore depend on the partner network and on how much you use. To stop roaming, BSNL’s pages say to call 1503 or visit a Customer Care Centre.

Where BSNL works: partner lists against the destinations Indians fly to

Both BSNL partner lists include the UAE, with 8,646,234 departures of Indian nationals in 2025 (Ministry of Tourism). Saudi Arabia, Thailand, the USA, Singapore, the UK, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Malaysia are on both lists. So are Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. The gaps are elsewhere. A partner network is not a pack. Most listed countries have no BSNL international roaming plan, only standard rates.

The table compares BSNL prepaid partners (101 countries) and BSNL postpaid partners (174 countries), read on 14 Oct 2026. These seven countries are on the postpaid list only.

A “no” means a prepaid BSNL number has no partner network there. See Sri Lanka for a four-operator comparison.

Special tariffs and notices: voice plans, per-MB rates, the USA and the 2G/3G sunset

BSNL’s special-destination list names seven countries: Bhutan, Mauritius, the UAE, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Iceland and Canada. Three of them print a BSNL IR plan with voice minutes. None of those plans states a data allowance. The rows below are as printed on 14 Oct 2026.

Source: BSNL Sri Lanka page · BSNL Mauritius page · BSNL Bhutan page.

The UAE, Singapore, Iceland and Canada pages show no plan and no tariff, only “launching 4G services soon”. The other country pages print a per-MB data rate for each partner network. The rates below were printed on BSNL’s prepaid country pages on 14 Oct 2026.

Under each table BSNL notes: “Tariffs are indicative and subject to change without prior notice.” It adds: “Your local unlimited plan for DATA is not valid overseas.” The pages do not say which partner network a phone will use.

Two home-page notices, 14 Oct 2026: BSNL “has launched prepaid service with single IMSI at USA (AT&T) from 19.02.2026”, and its services in Australia and Sweden are “impacted by the 2G/3G sunset”. Our Australia and Sweden guides cover those trips.

Data abroad on a BSNL number: keep the SIM, use an eSIM for data

Keep the BSNL SIM for calls and SMS and carry data on an eSIM. No BSNL international roaming plan on the site carries data. Roaming data runs at the per-MB rate of whichever partner network the phone is on. BSNL’s terms say subscribers “may disable data services directly from their mobile handset”, so switch mobile data off on the BSNL line before you land.

For calls on your BSNL number in Sri Lanka, Mauritius or Bhutan, BSNL’s minute plans above are the published option. An eSIM does not carry your Indian number. For data, a travel eSIM has a fixed allowance. Our Thailand eSIM costs ≈ ₹285 (13 Oct rate) for 1 GB over 7 days, charged US$2.99. It costs ≈ ₹618 (13 Oct rate) for 5 GB over 30 days, charged US$6.49. Your card is charged in US dollars. Your bank converts the amount at its own rate and may add a foreign-transaction (forex markup) fee. How card payments work.

Full refund within 30 days of purchase, as long as the eSIM has not connected to any network. If the eSIM doesn’t work and it isn’t your phone’s fault, we refund the payment whether or not it was installed.

Bank OTPs arrive as SMS on your BSNL number, and the eSIM cannot receive them. No page can promise that every OTP on BSNL abroad will reach you. See how to keep your Indian SIM for OTPs and data roaming explained. Compare the roaming overview, Jio, Airtel, Vi and travel eSIMs.

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