Interested in the costs of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) SIM card, which we reviewed? We’ll tell you immediately that the company sells SIM cards for a nominal price or even gives them for free. The circumstances vary. The pricing depends on whether you’re a new user, upgrading from an older technology such as 2G or 3G, or a returning user that wants a new plan. You may also see different financial demands if you lose your SIM or have it stolen. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t fret. Even in the worst scenario, the company has low pricing to attract as many customers as possible. Now, let’s tell you what the BSNL SIM price is.
Cost of a new BSNL SIM card
We will continue the trend of being straightforward. We will tell you that new prepaid 4G USIM cards from BSNL costs Rs 20, 20 INR, or 20 Indian rupees, or ₹20. Furthermore, a replacement SIM card for a stolen or lost BSNL one is Rs 50. You may find remnants of old offers that state that the SIM is priced at 50 Rs and a replacement at 100 Rs. However, those are untrue at the time of publication and date to the last few years.
Additionally, BSNL announced they will offer 5G SIM cards starting with August 15, 2023. The government and industry experts expect the pricing should stay affordable. Therefore, 5G SIM cards should cost roughly identical, and you can likely activate a BSNL SIM the same way. Therefore, every forward thinker should be familiar with the process besides having a compatible device.
However, BSNL SIM cards are useless without a fitting payment plan. Therefore, expect to pay between ₹10 (although usually between ₹50 and ₹249) and ₹997 for a prepaid SIM plan on top of a price of a SIM for FRC (First Recharge Costs). These may increase or decrease the next time you must top up your balance. Plans range from 1 day to 365 days, so users have a huge selection. We suggest learning to check your BSNL phone number and how to recharge a BSNL SIM. Both are logical steps after activation.
Does Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited have free SIM cards?
Yes, from time to time, BSNL does give SIM cards for free. One particular instance of a free BSNL SIM offer is when users want to upgrade their 2G or 3G SIM to a 4G one, whether prepaid or postpaid. In that case, the carrier offers a free upgrade. Note that the carrier only offers 4G in states such as Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Coimbatore, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. When they roll out a 4G network in a new area, residents are offered a gratis upgrade, prompting a question about how to upgrade from BSNL 3G to 4G. Sometimes they mandate that users pay at least ₹100 for a recharge.
A notable downside is that BSNL isn’t known for online orders or home delivery. That’s a shock to users of, say, a rival company Vodafone Idea (Vi). Therefore, you must visit the nearest BSNL Customer Center, their retail outlet, or a franchise. We already showed which documents are accepted while taking a SIM card. Make sure you have them, and they will hand the complimentary SIM over after identification. Unsurprisingly, you need to have a 4G compatible device and sufficient network coverage in your area.
What is the price of a BSNL SIM card from a reseller?
As mentioned, the primary issue with BSNL is the lack of home delivery that rival carriers offer. Therefore, many third parties saw a chink in the armor and use their network in India to offer free or paid SIM delivery. Customers must still provide the same personal information. Furthermore, they must pay between ₹20 and ₹199 for a reseller BSNL SIM card. More expensive ones usually come with free delivery, while cheaper ones usually come with an approximate ₹25 delivery charge. Users must still pick a suitable prepaid or postpaid plan on top of those prices.