Last updated on January 16th, 2023 at 06:16 am
After data charges, now the roaming 
charge is the hot segment where all mobile operators are trying to offer the best to lure their existing customers as well as to add more customers. Airtel lead and announced first the new roaming tariffs in line with TRAI permissions of dated 17 June 2013. The new roaming tariff is against the wishes of Govt of India which announced in March-2013 that free national roaming will be implemented from October-2013.
Yesterday, all leading mobile operator announced, one after other, new roaming tariffs. Let us see these tariffs and their comparison.
Airtel introduced two STVs for FREE Incoming calls during roaming for its prepaid customers across India. One STV is priced Rs 5 with validity of one day while other one is priced Rs 79 with validity of 30 days. Both STVs allows subscribers to make outgoing calls at 1.5p/sec.
For Postpaid subscriber, Airtel introduced four new plans as shown in comparison table.
Tata DoCoMo announced new roaming tariff but not allowed to receive incoming call free. Tata DoCoMo slashed the roaming tariffs and provided to all Prepaid and postpaid customers free of cost. You can see the details in comparison table.
Idea announced two new roaming plans STVs with longer validity of 180 days. One STV is priced between Rs 230 to Rs 240 depending on the state and offer free incoming calls but another STV which is priced between Rs 30 to Rs 40 offer reduced charges during roaming. The details have been compared with mobile operators and it is found that Idea offered plan at cheapest cost.
Vodafone also announced new roaming tariff for Karnataka Customers but it is expected that it will extend these new tariff for all India customers. Vodafone introduced two tariffs for postpaid customers. With Rs 299 per month, customer will enjoy free incoming call during roaming but with Rs 149 per month, charges for incoming call have been reduced from 75p to 60p/min during roaming.
| STV | Incoming call charges during roaming | Outgoing local call rates during roaming | Outgoing STD call rates during roaming | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Prepaid | Rs 5 per day | Free | 1.5p/sec | 1.5p/sec |
| Rs 79 for 30 days | Free | 1.5p/sec | 1.5p/sec | ||
| Postpaid | Add-on Pack of Rs 75 | Free | Same as base plan | Same as base plan | |
| Roaming Tariff Plan Rs 99 | 75p/min | 75p/min | 75p/min | ||
| Roaming free Incoming Plan Rs 99 | Free | 1.5p/sec | 1.5p/sec | ||
| Travel Mate Rs 499 | Free | 1.2p/sec | 1.2p/sec | ||
 | Prepaid | Rs 231 with validity of 180 days | Free | Rs1/min | Rs1.5/min |
| Rs 32 with validity of 180 days | 75p/min | Rs1/min | Rs1.5/min | ||
 | Prepaid | free for all | 1.25p/sec on Own-network and 75p/min for other network | 1.5p/sec on Own network and Rs 1/min on other network | 1.5p/sec on Own network and Rs 1.5/min on other network |
| Postpaid | free for all | 1.2p/sec on Own-network and 75p/min for other network | 1.2p/sec on Own network and Rs 1/min on other network | 1.2p/sec on Own network and Rs 1.5/min on other network | |
 | Postpaid | Rs 149 per month | 60p/min | 90p/min | 90p/min |
| Postpaid | Rs 299 per month | Free | 90p/min | 90p/min |
With the above table it is clear all three Airtel, Idea and Vodafone offered free incoming calls with a fixed fee but Tata DoCoMo have just reduced roaming tariff. All the above tariffs are effective from 1 July-2013.
Once upon a time, BSNL was having one STV of Rs 12 which were allowed customers to receive free incoming calls for 15 days in roaming area.
