Mobile communications in Goa. Cellular communications and Internet in Goa

If you want to use telephone and Internet communications in India, then it makes sense to get a local SIM card, since roaming with a Russian SIM card will cost you very much. The three most popular mobile operators in Goa are Airtel, Vodafone and Idea.

Communications in India are quite well developed and they are quite cheap. Many parts of India have 4G, but unfortunately Goa only has 3G.

Necessary documents for obtaining a SIM card

So, to get a SIM card in Goa and register it in your name, you will need:

1. Color photo(if you don’t have it with you, they will make it for you for 50 rupees on the spot).
2. Foreign passport and copy home page with photo(if there is no copy, they will make one for you for 10 rupees).
3. Address and telephone number of the owner of the house where you are staying(they will call him and check whether you really live at this address).
4. Money(100 rupees for connection + money for the selected tariff).

Tariffs and cost of calls

Communication tariffs are different and depend on the amount of Internet traffic you need, as well as the number of minutes of calls.

For example, a tariff for 401 rupees per month includes:

• 1 GB Internet 3G for 1 month;
• all incoming calls are free, including from Russia;
• 1 minute of conversation to Russia 6-7 rupees;
• 1 minute on an Indian number – 1 rupee;
• sms within India (7 sms) – 5 rupees;
• for the first 7 days 35 free SMS are given;

This SIM card is valid for 3 months. When you buy a SIM card, it is not activated. To activate it, cellular employees need to bring documents to the operator’s company. This takes approximately 2-3 days. On the fourth day, you come to the same address and it will be activated for you.

What alternatives are there so as not to wait for the SIM card to be activated?

There are many offers to purchase an already activated SIM card. Naturally, they will not be issued in your name and will cost much more.
For example, travel agencies during a transfer may offer you the purchase of such a SIM card, or local residents in tents, or even the tourists themselves who have settled and live there.

Which option you use is, of course, up to you.

How to call

• If you call to Russia, dial the number via +7.
• If you call Indian numbers, all you need to do is dial a ten-digit number.
• To call your Indian number from Russia, you need to dial +91 and then the ten-digit number.
• If you bought a SIM card in Goa, then when you travel to another state, roaming will be activated and the payment will be higher.

How to check your balance

• Airtel - *123#
• Vodafone- *141# or *111*2# (the rest of the Internet traffic is *111*6*2#)
• Idea- *212# (remaining Internet traffic - *125#)

How to top up your balance

The balance can be topped up at the same store where you bought the SIM card or at any other point of sale of cellular communications. Wait for the money to arrive in your account before leaving the salon. And keep in mind that not the entire amount that you give for replenishment may appear on your balance, because... Intermediaries often increase the cost and take the difference for themselves.

/ Cellular connection in Goa

Roaming or local SIM card?

It’s advisable not to even think about using your “home” SIM cards in Goa for calls. Unless, of course, you have an excessive amount of money :) Roaming rates for all operators are completely inhumane; both outgoing and incoming calls are paid. For example, the cost of outgoing/incoming calls: in MTS 149/149 rubles, in Megafon 125/100 rubles, in Beeline 99/99 rubles. SMS everywhere for 19 rubles. It will be much cheaper to buy a local SIM card in Goa and use it. From local cellular networks, calls to Russia cost 10 rupees (= about 7 rubles), to Indian numbers - 1 rupee, SMS to Russia usually costs 5 rupees.

Russian operators began to have various additional services and packages that make roaming significantly cheaper. If desired, check with your operator for offers. However, the cost of calls from Indian SIM cards is still significantly cheaper.

In particular, we can recommend MTS and their “Zero Without Borders” service. For a subscription fee of 25 rubles per day, all incoming calls in roaming are free, lasting up to 10 minutes (up to 200 minutes per month, then 5 rubles / minute). Outgoing calls cost 149 rubles per minute, or 79 rubles with the gogo roaming option.

Important! As of February 2013, the Megafon operator only contract rates work automatically in roaming in Goa. For all "light" tariffs (all those without subscription fee), you need to activate roaming at the Megafon office.

Which operator's SIM card should I buy?

There are several cellular networks in Goa - Airtel, Idea, Vodafone, BSNL, Aircel. Coverage in Goa is quite uneven; some networks may work in the same places, while others may not. According to reviews, Airtel and Idea (in the North) have the best coverage, and they are also the ones most often purchased. Also, now they say Vodafone is doing well. Coverage and quality of communication in different places (even within the same village) may vary between different operators. The only way to know for sure is through experimentation. Simply put - buy either Idea, or Airtel, or Vodafone. Don't put a lot of money into your account at once. Test it. If you don't like how it works, try buying a SIM card from another operator.

Buying a SIM card

Tourists can connect to prepaid tariffs of all networks. You can connect both in official offices and in a huge number of shops - travel offices (part-time dealing with currency exchange, selling air and train tickets). It’s better not to buy at Dabolim airport - it’s very expensive there (for 800 rupees a SIM card with only 450 rupees in the account).

To connect, as a rule, you need 1 (sometimes 2) color photograph 3x4 (or 3.5x4.5, it doesn’t matter). And also, a copy of your passport, the main page, and the page with the visa and entry stamps on it. Copies are often made immediately on the spot, or in extreme cases they will tell you where you can photocopy them.

About dialing an Indian phone number

International dialing code India: +91.

Numbers cell phones without international code ten digits. xxx-xxx-xx-xx (for example, 9604870327).

Within India, from phone to phone, you can dial either simply this ten-digit number or in the international format, i.e. +91-xxx-xxx-xx-xx (example: +91-9604870327).
When calling from Russia, you must dial the Indian number in international format (starting with +91).

When calling from India to Russia, numbers are also dialed in international format, and without “8” (instead +7). For example, if the number is 8-926-123-45-67, in international format it is +7-926-123-45-67.

Account replenishment (Recharge)

Cards (recharge vouchers) are sold to replenish the balance, and cash replenishment is also common everywhere. All this is available in those same travel offices located everywhere in large quantities.

For depositing, there are usually certain thresholds of amounts that determine whether there will be a commission on the payment or not. May differ for different operators. As far as I remember, for Idea top-up without commission, the amount was 395 rupees.

Mobile Internet

Additional connection required. Using USSD or SMS requests. It is advisable to find out in advance on the Internet what tariffs and traffic packages are available, and, if possible, write down how to connect them. If anything happens, you can ask the seller, but they are not always aware.

2G (GPRS/EDGE) and 3G (WCDMA/UMTS) services are currently separate from Indian cellular operators. They are charged separately and connected separately.

Note with description mobile internet in Goa and purchasing a microsim card for your phone.

General information

There are almost no problems with the Internet in Goa. Internet is available in many cafes and hotels. You can also get a local SIM card and use 3G Internet. This is perhaps the most best way always have a connection and do not depend on wi-fi, which constantly “falls off” due to short power outages.

If you use wi-fi in the area where you live and after turning off the lights you find that the Internet has stopped working, ask the hosts to reboot wifi router. In 50% of cases, the router needs to be rebooted to resume Internet operation. If you don’t contact us and complain about the lack of Internet, you may find yourself without it for a couple of days.

There are three most common mobile operators in Goa

— Vodofon
- Airtel
—Idea

My experience of using the Internet in Goa

Initially I wanted to buy a SIM card Idea, but at that moment the management of the company was changing and it was impossible to issue a tariff. I don’t know how the management of companies in GOA changes, but some users could not even top up their account during this period.

I had to buy Vodofon. Which I didn’t regret at all. The only difficulty was that I was looking for a micro SIM card. And lo and behold, in one of the remote places, I found one. So, if you wish, you can get a micro SIM card.

To obtain a SIM card, you need a copy of your international passport and two color photographs. Stock up on them in advance when leaving.

There is no point in citing the cost of Internet and communications in GOA. It is an order of magnitude cheaper than in Russia. They will explain everything on the spot and will also connect you to the Internet in front of you. Sometimes this is done in such a cunning way that you can’t figure it out yourself. For example, I observed how the seller sent a request to activate the Internet through his phone, and not through the SIM card I purchased.

The largest companies are Airtel, Idea and Vodafone, which provide approximately the same quality communication services. Airtel is especially popular in North Goa, where it has the best reception of all the listed operators.

The connection here is surprisingly good, but there is national roaming, and in different states they will charge you additional money for replenishing your account.

There are several subtleties associated with the work of cellular operators in the country, which are related to the peculiarities of the policy and its territorial structure. For example, the following.

• Services for tourists continue only until the visa is valid. Then the card is blocked.
• To purchase a SIM card, you will need two color photos (often taken on site), a hotel checkout and a passport.
• For foreigners, it takes longer to obtain a number, but it is still better to wait and not buy cards with an existing registration in order to avoid unnecessary problems with the authorities.
• The cost of calls may vary in different states, but not by an order of magnitude.

Where is the best place to buy a SIM card?

You can purchase the package either at a special kiosk on the street or in any shopping center with branded operator counters. All sellers speak English and will always be able to advise if you have any questions.

Pay attention to the issue of replenishing SIM cards. In India large number street stands with operator logos, where you can deposit funds into your account (the inscription “refill”). This is done by the dealer himself via SMS message, so give the money only after you receive a letter about the replenishment: the seller must do this “for his own money” and only then demand cash from you.

Cellular tariffs for tourists

All three operators offer approximately similar packages for “tourist” calls abroad. You can approach the seller and ask “for tourists” - they will show you the tariff options.

The SIM card itself costs 150-200 rupees, calls with Russia are charged from 5 to 15 rupees/min (from 4 to 12 rubles). It is very convenient to count, because a rupee is equal to 0.9 rubles. Of course, this is much cheaper than roaming services.

How to call India from Russia

91 - country code, dialing occurs through eight only if you want to call landline phone.

To mobile phone

To call an Indian SIM card, dial +91 before the phone number. Example:

• +91-ХХХХХХХХХ

To a landline phone

• 8 (beep) 10, then 91 (country prefix), then the city prefix and the landline number you want to call.

Telephone codes for the most popular resorts in India:

• Agra - 562;
• Mumbai - 22;
• Goa - 832.

How to call Russia from India

By the way, you can also call Russia from payphones - there are plenty of them in India, and the cost will not be too different from the price of a call from a mobile phone.

Depending on whether you are calling a mobile phone or a landline, the international dialing code and area code are used.

To mobile phone

• Standard direct call in the format +7ХХХХХХХХХ

H3 - To landline

We dial 00 to access international conversations, then the code of our country, city and phone number. Example:

• 00, then 7 (Russian code), then the code the desired city and phone number.

Mobile communications and Internet in Goa- one of the fastest growing sectors of the state's economy. There is a government program underway, according to which the development of such technologies is a state priority.

Mobile communications in Goa

There are 14 mobile and Internet operators in the state, the most famous of which are Vodafone, Airtel, Idea, BSNL, Aircel, Reliance and Tata DoCoMo, all of which have approximately the same tariffs. The quality of communication is usually good, and your phone can connect to the network not only in a city or village, but even in transport.

The best option for a tourist who comes to Goa is to use his own phone and prepaid services mobile operator, especially if the trip is long. Calls to your country from the local cellular network are much cheaper than calls in international roaming, especially since some operators do not support this service Well, state territory.

A prepaid SIM card can be purchased at the office of a cellular company or at a travel agency that sells . The best coverage here is different Vodafone operators, Airtel and Idea. To connect to the operator’s network, you need copies of your passport pages (main page and visa page), as well as 1-2 passport-size photographs. All this can usually be done on site. After filling out the form, you will be given a SIM card, but it will not start working immediately, but only after you call the customer support center, where you will be asked a few simple questions (name, passport number, date of birth, residential address, etc.) . Communication with the operator takes place, of course, in English. After successfully answering the questions, the SIM card is activated within approximately one hour.

Please note that in India there are restrictions on the sale of SIM cards to foreigners; a tourist can receive one for the duration of the visa, but not more than 3 months. After three months or at the moment the visa expires (whichever comes first), the SIM card is blocked. However, such a SIM card can be unlocked if you contact the mobile operator’s office with a corresponding application. To do this, you will again have to go through the entire registration procedure, after which you will be given new SIM card, but with the same number and with the same balance.

Thus, when applying for a SIM card in your name, some problems may arise. Firstly, after purchasing a SIM card, mobile communications do not become available immediately, but only after calling the call center, which is not very convenient, especially for those who do not own English in sufficient volume. Well, secondly, the SIM card will be blocked after three months, which may not be a very pleasant surprise for those who plan to travel around India for a long time. Of course, enterprising Indians are ready to offer a way out of this situation. If you wish, you can purchase an already activated card from them. They are sold in almost all mobile communications departments, but, of course, they are more expensive. To purchase such a SIM card, you do not need any documents, filling out forms or calling support. It will start working immediately. The main thing is not to forget to check whether there is money in the account, and you can call anywhere.

To top up your account balance, you need a voucher, which is sold almost everywhere. You can deposit money in cash at the office mobile operator or agencies. It is better to top up your account with certain amounts of money, called full talk time. This means that the balance will be exactly the amount that you paid, in otherwise A fee may apply for replenishing your account.

Internet in Goa

Many people, for work or other purposes upon arrival in India, need not only mobile phone, but also access to the Internet. This connection is no different in Goa good quality and speed, but there are many connection options. One of them, and the simplest, is wi-fi, free internet, which is available in cafes and sheks, hotels and hostels. To access this Internet you need a password, which can be obtained from the service personnel. However, this Internet is not very fast; sometimes there is no connection at all all day.

2G and 3G Internet services from Indian operators are connected and charged separately. It is better to find out in advance what tariffs and traffic packages are available. The easiest way is to ask the SIM card seller about all this. If you travel to the northern part of the state, for example, to the villages of Anjuna, Vagator, Chapora, then you can rarely find 3G here; more often the phone catches the usual Edge, which is slow, which can hardly load even the simplest Internet pages. If your route lies in the villages of Candolim, Calangute or Baga, then you can breathe easy, there are practically no problems with 3G here, it works everywhere.

The best option may be to connect to the Internet via a USB modem with a SIM card from an Indian mobile operator. You can buy it at the office of the mobile operator. Be careful with video calls, they consume a lot of traffic.

There is also fiber-optic Internet in Goa, however, this is very rare here, because it is expensive and time-consuming; the procedure takes about two months. Only those who live here permanently use this connection. This type connection is tied to a specific place of residence, that is, having spent money on it and waited until the connection is established, you will not be able to then take the Internet with you anywhere.