International Roaming (IR) Services of BSNL

Activate International Roaming
How to activate : 


Please fill up a service request form along with two self attested photograph and a copy of passport. One time security deposit of INR 5000/- [refundable] and INR 99/- per month will be charged in addition to the international roaming usage. Visit to the nearest BSNL Customer Care Centre and collect the special International Roaming SIM.  

Deactivation of International Roaming : 

    Please call BSNL customer care number 1503 (toll free) or 
    Visit nearest BSNL Customer Care Centre.
    If you visit abroad frequently please don’t ask for deactivation. 

Refund of Security Deposit.

    Please visit the nearest Customer Care Centre and ask for the same through application.It will be     adjusted in the prospective bills.

"How to use it".

1	Before you leave, check that your roaming function has been activated, by calling our Customer Service Centre (Call Toll Free Number 1503).
2	After landing into foreign country, switch ON the phone and go to Menu. Click on Cellone or BSNL Mobile and select Network.
3	In the network you will get option of National and International. Select International, you will get CellOne and Partner Network.
4	Select the option Cellone, you will get a message - "CellOne International Selected". Wait for two minutes you will get the Network automatically.
5	If it fails, please select the network manually.(By selecting Setting and then Network in your phone).

Basic checks - Before you go Before you leave, check that your roaming function has been activated, by simply calling our 24 hours customer service helpline 1503. Make sure your handset will work in the country you're travelling to. Please check the Handset compatibility with Network frequency (GSM MHz 850/900/1800/1900) before travelling outside India. Japan & Korea support 3G Hand Set, USA & Canada supports 1900 MHz Hand Set. To call back home dial the number with “+91”. To access Voicemail abroad, you need to set up a Voicemail PIN code. To do this, access your Voicemail in the India and follow the voice prompts. You can alert your callers that you are overseas by activating a Caller Tune announcing that you are overseas. Dial 56700 and select the English category. Certain GPRS based applications viz. GPS, Facebook, Blackberry messenger or any other instant messaging application etc. continuously consume data bandwidth leading to high Data-Roaming charges even when you are not using the same. This is applicable to smart phones and high-end GPRS capable handsets which poll (communicate with) the home network continuously. We advice you take an informed decision to keep these applications switched-on, while you are overseas. For any assistance in the matter, please call our customer helpline.

Making calls when you're abroad Calling a number in the country you're visiting : Dial the full number, including area code, as you would at home. Receiving calls when you're abroad : The same as when you're in the India — except you're charged when you receive calls. Calling another country when you're abroad : Dial '+ ' followed by the country code, then key in the phone number without '0'. For example, to call from US to UK, dial +4412345678.

Sending text messages Works exactly the same as when you're in the India. SMS is charged for 160 characters per outgoing SMS e.g., if an SMS is of 200 characters then it is charged as two SMS’s. Don't forget to dial the full international number, including the 91 prefix. If your mobile is not working, even then you can send SMS. Click here.

GPRS/Data Roaming The charges for GPRS/Data usages are calculated in terms of the Volume of data sent or received. As with the Voice/SMS, charges here are variable and completely dependent on foreign operators. Also note that your local plans for GPRS/Blackberry are not valid overseas and all data usages are charges at the visited operator rates.

Blackberry Receiving and sending mails, while you are on international roaming, add to data usage and therefore, are charged accordingly. Your local unlimited plan for GPRS/Blackberry is not valid overseas.

Billings and Payments While you are roaming overseas, as a service gesture, BSNL does not normally restrict your usage to the extent of your credit limit. This is done to allow you continued access, considering the significantly higher usage charges in international roaming. To get periodic updates on usage, subscribe to our free usage alerts service by sending an SMS “USG” to 53333. The charges incurred by you, while on international roaming, are sent to us by international operator and can take 3 days or even more and accordingly the alerts received by you may not reflect the latest status and will be as per the last update received by us.

Getting help when you're abroad If you encounter any difficulties while on International Roaming you can book your complain Click Here OR Call +919434024365. ______________________________________________________________________________ Dear Customer, Sub : Details of International Roaming (IR) Services of BSNL At the outset, we would like to thank you for subscribing to BSNL‟s  International Roaming Facility. BSNL is providing International Roaming services in  476 Networks in 195 countries covering nook and corner of the world. This letter is being dispatched to help you understand various billing  components pertaining to International Roaming so as to enable you to use our  International roaming services in an informed uninterrupted and seamless way. All  details pertaining to our international roaming service are also available at website  www.ir.bsnl.co.in.  Subscription- IR Service of BSNL is available on request to postpaid customers by  filling up a simple service request form. Two self attested photographs, an attested  copy of the passport and a one time security deposit of INR 5000/- [refundable]  needs to be deposited along with request form. Subsequently, INR 99/- per month  will be charged as a subscription fees over and above the actual international  roaming usage.  Using the IR services While roaming abroad, you can choose a network of your choice by simply following  the steps mentioned below:  Before leaving, check that your roaming function has been activated by  calling our Customer Service Centre (Call Toll Free Number 1503)  After landing into foreign country, switch ON the phone and go to the „Menu‟.  Click on Cellone (BSNL Mobile in new SIMs) and select Network.  In the network you will get options of National and International. Select  International, you will get „CellOne‟ and „Partner Network‟  Select the option Cellone, you will get a message - "CellOne International  Selected". Wait for two minutes you will get the Network automatically  If it fails, please select the network manually.(By selecting Setting and then  Network in your phone) International Roaming Tariffs –The applicable charges are variable and  dependent on theforeign operators. For an updated detailed tariff of operators in  various countries, we request you to visit our website www.ir.bsnl.co.in.  Voice/SMS-All voice calls viz. incoming and outgoing (including calls to BSNL  Customer Care) are chargeable while you are overseas. The call charges are  completely operator dependent and are in general charged for a 60 second pulse.  The SMS is charged for 160 characters per outgoing SMS (For example, in case of an  SMS of 170 characters, it will be treated as 2 SMSs). GPRS/Data – The charges for GPRS/Data usages are calculated in terms of the  Volume of data sent or received. As with the Voice / SMS, charges here are variable  and completely dependent on foreign operators. Also note that your local plans for  GPRS/Blackberry are not valid overseas and all data usages are charges at the  visited operator rates. Blackberry Usages – When roaming abroad, receiving and sending mails adds to  the data usage and is charged accordingly. Billing & Payments -  While you are roaming overseas, as a service gesture, BSNL does not normally  restrict your usage to the extent of your credit limit. This is done to allow you  continued access, considering the significantly higher usage charges in  international roaming.  To get periodic updates on usage, subscribe to our free usage alerts service by  sending an SMS “USG” to 53333. The charges incurred by you, while on  international roaming, are sent to us by international operator and can take 3  days or even more and accordingly the alerts received by you may not reflect the  latest status and will be as per the last update received by us. Some Useful Tips –  If you encounter any difficulties while roaming abroad, you can book your  complaint at www.ir.bsnl.co.in OR Call +919434024365   Check the Handset compatibility with Network frequency (GSM MHz  850/900/1800/1900) before travelling outside India and make sure that your  handset will work in the country you are traveling to. Japan & Korea support 3G  Hand Set, USA & Canada supports 1900 MHz Hand Set.  To call back home dial the number with “+91”.  You can alert your callers that you are overseas by activating a Caller Tune  announcing that you are overseas. Dial 56700 and select the English category.  Certain GPRS based applications viz. GPS, Facebook, Blackberry messenger or any  other instant messaging application etc. continuously consume data bandwidth  leading to high Data-Roaming charges even when you are not using the same.  This is applicable to smart phones and high-end GPRS capable handsets which poll  (communicate with) the home network continuously. We advice you take an  informed decision to keep these applications switched-on, while you are overseas.  For any assistance in the matter, please call our customer helpline.  Loss/Theft of SIM card or mobile phone while overseas should be reported to  BSNL immediately at +919434024365. In case the theft is not reported  immediately, all usage till the time of reporting will be payable by you. We have tried to give some helpful information relating to International Roaming. We  advice you to visit our website www.ir.bsnl.co.in for any further information. We wish you a very happy journey ! Warm Regards BSNL IR Team http://www.ir.bsnl.co.in/index.jsp