Vodafone Idea (Vi) has introduced free international roaming as a built-in benefit on select prepaid, postpaid and enterprise plans, giving eligible customers access to roaming services across more than 170 countries without having to purchase a separate roaming pack.
The new offering, announced on September 25, 2026, is being positioned as a simpler alternative for customers who regularly travel outside India. Depending on the plan, users can receive the roaming benefit for up to three international trips a year, with the included data allowance and outgoing calling minutes varying between plans. Vi estimates that eligible customers could save up to ₹9,000 a year on international roaming costs.
The change is significant because international roaming has traditionally required customers to buy a separate pack before travelling or switch to a local SIM or travel eSIM after reaching their destination. Vi's new approach brings the roaming benefit into selected existing plans, allowing customers to continue using their Indian Vi number while abroad.
The offer is not available across every Vi plan. According to the details announced by the operator, eligible options include postpaid plans starting at ₹501, annual prepaid unlimited-data plans and enterprise plans starting at ₹451. The exact international benefits depend on the individual plan.
For travellers, keeping the same Indian number can be useful beyond ordinary calls and mobile data. Customers can continue to receive communications linked to their existing number, including OTPs and other account-related messages, without having to rely entirely on a secondary SIM. Vi has also highlighted the convenience of avoiding the need to arrange a local SIM or travel eSIM before or after a trip.
Vi is making the benefit available through its Roam-Free option in the Vi App. Eligible customers can check their plan, view the applicable roaming benefit and activate it before travelling.
The operator is promoting the move under its “Vi Pe Sab Hain VIP” campaign. Avneesh Khosla, Vi's chief marketing officer, said the company was moving away from a model in which customers purchase roaming only when they travel towards making it a built-in benefit on selected plans.
There is an important detail for customers to keep in mind: “free international roaming” does not mean unlimited roaming on every eligible plan. The number of trips, international data allowance and outgoing calling minutes are determined by the plan a customer has. Users therefore need to check the specific Roam-Free benefits attached to their plan before travelling.
Vi's move comes as Indian telecom operators increasingly compete on benefits beyond domestic voice and data. International connectivity has become more relevant as travellers look for ways to keep their primary number active while avoiding the expense and inconvenience associated with traditional roaming packs.
The timing also gives Vi another way to differentiate its higher-value plans. Instead of treating international roaming as a separate add-on, the operator is making it part of the overall value proposition of selected prepaid, postpaid and enterprise offerings.
For customers who travel abroad only occasionally, the usefulness of the new benefit will depend largely on the roaming allowance attached to their existing plan. Frequent international travellers, however, may find the built-in benefit more convenient because they can keep their Vi number active without arranging a separate roaming pack for every trip.
Vi's latest move therefore changes the way international roaming is packaged rather than simply removing roaming charges for all customers. Eligible users still need a qualifying plan, and the included benefits vary, but the ability to retain an Indian number across more than 170 countries without a separate roaming purchase marks a notable shift in Vi's international connectivity strategy.