Prepaid options in Kochi, India for a US traveler

[tgp]

In January 2016 I will be traveling to Kochi, India for a week. I have questions about the best way to get service while I'm there.

I use a factory unlocked Nexus 6, so I'm free to use pretty much any carrier. I'm on Verizon, but I can grab a month of T-Mobile's Simple Choice service for while I'm there. I also have a Project Fi invite.

What are my options? From what I understand, T-Mobile's Simple Choice international program does include India, but data speed is low. Would Project Fi be throttled as well? I'm thinking I might be better off grabbing a prepaid SIM for the time I'm there?

Assuming I use an Indian carrier, what's the best one to use? As I said, I'll primarily be in the Kochi area. I do not need voice or SMS service. As long as I have data, I'll use Google Voice/Hangouts. I can forward my Verizon calls to my GV number. I'll want something with unlimited data, or at least quite a few GBs.

 

[srkmagnus]

In January 2016 I will be traveling to Kochi, India for a week. I have questions about the best way to get service while I'm there.

I use a factory unlocked Nexus 6, so I'm free to use pretty much any carrier. I'm on Verizon, but I can grab a month of T-Mobile's Simple Choice service for while I'm there. I also have a Project Fi invite.

What are my options? From what I understand, T-Mobile's Simple Choice international program does include India, but data speed is low. Would Project Fi be throttled as well? I'm thinking I might be better off grabbing a prepaid SIM for the time I'm there?

Assuming I use an Indian carrier, what's the best one to use? As I said, I'll primarily be in the Kochi area. I do not need voice or SMS service. As long as I have data, I'll use Google Voice/Hangouts. I can forward my Verizon calls to my GV number. I'll want something with unlimited data, or at least quite a few GBs.

T-Mobile may be the way to go. However, you may want to give a few of the carriers a call there and see if they offer prepaid plans that may include faster data speeds.

 

[tgp]

T-Mobile may be the way to go. However, you may want to give a few of the carriers a call there and see if they offer prepaid plans that may include faster data speeds.

Yes I was thinking along those lines. I know that T-Mobile will work in India, as will Project Fi. My question is whether service will be acceptable in the Kochi area. I was hoping that there are some India residents, or someone who has traveled there, that can give first hand experience.

If I don't get any confirmation either way, I'll probably just try to grab a prepaid SIM card when I arrive.

 

[shashankmittal]

I live in US and travel to India and South East Asia often.

If you are in India for few days, your best option would be to get a prepaid sim card there. Airtel is the biggest cellular operator and you can easily get a sim card at any Airtel shop for really cheap (less than US$5). The cellular usage charges are not high in India, but I must warn you that the internet connectivity isn't like what you are used to in US. Cellular internet is mostly 3G and 4G LTE is limited to few cities and that too with spotty coverage. Free WiFi isn't very common and is mostly limited to hotels, so Project Fi isn't a viable option.

 

[tgp]

If you are in India for few days, your best option would be to get a prepaid sim card there. Airtel is the biggest cellular operator and you can easily get a sim card at any Airtel shop for really cheap (less than US$5).

This is what I'd like to do, but from what I hear it is a major bureaucratic headache for a foreigner to get a lock SIM card in India. Is that true? That's why I hesitate.

 

[shashankmittal]

They typically require a government issued ID to get a pre-paid SIM card, but you can easily find a shop that is willing to work with you. Your hotel staff or any local friend/colleague can easily help you.