Air India and Tata Communications bring EasyRoam to keep you connected internationally

For many Indians travelling abroad, the excitement of a holiday or an international work trip often comes with one familiar worry: how will I stay connected once I land?

Buying a local SIM, finding a suitable international roaming plan or discovering that mobile data has run out at the wrong moment can quickly become an unwanted part of the travel experience. International roaming charges can also make travellers think twice before using their phones freely overseas.

With more Indians travelling internationally for holidays, work, education and family visits, staying connected has become less of a luxury and more of an everyday necessity. From booking a cab and checking directions to messaging family back home or accessing digital payments and travel information, a working phone can make an unfamiliar destination feel a little easier to navigate.

It is against this backdrop that Air India and Tata Communications have launched EasyRoam, an Air India-branded travel SIM designed to give international travellers a simpler way to access voice and data services while abroad.

A SIM designed around the traveller

EasyRoam is an ancillary travel product developed by Tata Communications in partnership with Air India. It is available as both a physical SIM and an eSIM through a dedicated Air India-branded webpage.

In its inaugural phase, the service covers 30 countries across North America, Europe, including the UK, Australia, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. The geographical coverage is planned to expand to up to 190 countries progressively.

The EasyRoam SIM itself is currently available free of cost, although customers will need to pay for the roaming packs they choose. Plans start at INR 241, excluding taxes, with the final price depending on the destination and plan selected.

Travellers can choose between destination-specific and worldwide plans, with options for data-only or voice and data connectivity.

An extra gigabyte for travellers

There is also an added incentive for customers opting for a data plan. They can receive up to 1GB of additional complimentary data, applicable across all countries covered by the offer except Maldives and Mauritius.

The service is designed to give travellers greater visibility over their mobile usage, with notifications and alerts helping them keep track of consumption and manage costs while overseas.

Customers can also retain their existing number for up to one year at a nominal cost when opting for the SIM.
Also read | IndiGo plane hit by lightning at 17,000 feet; nose damaged before safe landing in Lucknow

Connectivity before the journey begins

One of the key ideas behind EasyRoam is to remove the need to search for connectivity after arriving at an international destination.

Travellers can purchase and activate their mobile plan before departure, allowing them to connect soon after they arrive. The digital-first process is intended to make international connectivity part of the travel journey rather than something travellers have to arrange once they reach their destination.

“Today’s travellers expect travel experience to be seamless, instant and secure,” said Vivek Manglik, Executive Vice President – Interaction Fabric, Tata Communications.

“Through our collaboration with Air India, we’re bringing travel connectivity into the booking journey itself, enabling customers to choose and activate their mobile plan before departure and go online the moment they arrive. Together, we’re making international connectivity simpler, more secure and more transparent, giving travellers greater control, visibility and peace of mind wherever they travel.”

Keeping families, work and travel connected

For travellers, the importance of connectivity goes beyond simply browsing the internet.

A phone is often the first point of contact with family after landing in another country. It is also used for maps, transport, hotel bookings, digital payments, work calls, social media and accessing essential travel information.

For families travelling with children or older relatives, being able to make a call or send a message without worrying about unexpectedly high roaming costs can provide an added sense of reassurance.

For business travellers, meanwhile, reliable connectivity can mean staying in touch with colleagues and clients without having to spend time arranging a local connection after arrival.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said the way people travel has changed, with travellers increasingly living, working and socialising across borders. “Today’s travellers increasingly live, work and socialise across borders, and they expect uninterrupted access to the digital services that power their daily lives,” Aggarwal said.

“EasyRoam addresses this need by enabling our customers to stay connected effortlessly while travelling internationally, without the hassle of arranging for connectivity after arrival. It is another step in our effort to create a more seamless, digitally enabled travel experience in partnership with Tata Communications.”
Also read | What is at stake for Indian airlines as crucial FAA safety audit draws near?

Backed by a global connectivity network

Behind EasyRoam is Tata Communications' global connectivity footprint and its partnerships with more than 600 mobile network operators. This network enables travellers to access mobile connectivity across destinations while choosing plans based on where they are travelling and how they expect to use their phones.

For a traveller, the idea is simple: decide what kind of connectivity is needed before leaving home, activate the plan and arrive with one less thing to worry about.

From 30 countries to potentially 190

EasyRoam is currently available for purchase through the Air India website, with availability through the Air India mobile app planned subsequently. The initial 30-country coverage is expected to expand progressively to up to 190 countries, potentially making the service relevant to a much wider pool of international travellers.

As international travel from India continues to grow, services such as EasyRoam point to a broader shift in the travel experience. The journey no longer ends at the airport gate or begins again after immigration; travellers increasingly expect their digital lives to travel with them.

And sometimes, something as simple as being able to call home the moment you land can make a long journey feel a little more comfortable.