Typically, international roaming is not activated by default on all Idea numbers. In case you have deactivated the international roaming service on your Postpaid connection, you can request for reactivation or fresh activation by using one of the following methods:

• Visit  www.ideacellular.com, click on ‘Self-care’, select my ‘Postpaid’ and choose the ‘My Plans & Services’ option. From the list of services, select ‘International Roaming’ and click on ‘Activate’.
• Call 198, our toll-free number from your Idea connection.
• Visit your nearest Idea service centre. To locate the nearest centre, click here.

Note: To activate international roaming on your Postpaid connection, you may have to go through additional verification and/or pay an additional deposit.

• Roaming usage charges are based on the location where you are travelling to, the roaming network used and the kind of usage (local/ ISD calls, SMS or data usage).
• You have to pay a monthly rental to activate international roaming on your Postpaid connection. Prepaid customers have to pay a rental only when using the international roaming service.
• You can save up to 95% on data and up to 80% on voice calls when you choose an international roaming pack. 

You can use your Idea connection while roaming internationally in all the countries where Idea has a partner network. For a detailed list of coverage areas and local networks that we have partnered with, click here.

On reaching the roaming destination, you will automatically get a signal from the visiting network, if present. It may take about 3 to 5 minutes to latch on to a network.
If you do not get connected automatically, you can manually select a network from your handset’s settings menu. To do this, just select the manual mode from the network selection menu and choose a network that Idea has a tie up with.

No, all incoming SMSes will be free while roaming nationally as well as internationally. However, you will have to pay for incoming calls and data downloads.

Typically, your handset will be compatible with the frequency of the network of the country you are travelling to. To check the network frequency, click here.
While roaming in Korea and Japan, make sure that your handset is 3G (2100MHz) compatible as networks in these countries offer 3G services only.

Yes, you can call customer care while roaming internationally by dialling the relevant 10-digit customer care number. The short code, 12345, will not work. Please note that international roaming charges will be applicable when you make this call.

While roaming internationally, GPRS is charged as per international roaming rates. Please note, data usage is charged for upload as well as download.

Roaming is charged based on the data sent by the roaming operator. Sometimes this data is received post the generation of your bill. So, it appears in the next month’s bill.

Rely on this checklist for all the important information.

• Remember to check if your handset is compatible in the country you are travelling to.
• You can avoid unnecessary calls while roaming by using the roaming dialer tone. Find out more here.
• To economise, we suggest that you cancel the call forward facility when you’re roaming. This is because if it is active, you are charged double ISD—once for the incoming call, and once for diverting it to a different number. Besides, certain international roaming partners do not support call divert.
• While on international roaming, the full number may not be displayed on your handset for certain incoming calls due to technical reasons. These numbers will be listed in your monthly bill.
• Remember to enter phone numbers according to the dialing pattern of the country or city that you are in. To make things easier, store numbers in the international format. Eg: + 44 97 5632 3333 (Enter ‘+’ followed by the country code, area code and the phone number)
• Data usage charges while on international roaming are applicable as per international roaming tariff. To avoid excessive data roaming charges, enable ‘Data Roaming’ on your handset only when you want to use data services.
• Activities such as updating your Facebook status, BBM, WhatsApp, downloading emails may be restricted.
• While roaming with AT&T Cellular, USA, a charge is applied for unanswered mobile originated calls for a duration that is greater than 29 seconds, as per the applicable rates. While roaming with T-Mobile USA, a charge is applicable for unanswered mobile originated calls at applicable rates.
• Some operators charge additional GPRS charges for connecting to the visited network even if there is no usage. This appears in the bill as charges against 0Kb usage.