Esim - India to UK

[Esimhelp]

I am travelling to India in the new year and want to use an esim for calls and data, rather than relying on wifi when out and about.

For convenience, I don't want to change my phone number as I need people to be able to contact me by phone while away. This is the most important thing for me. I know I can get a local sim out there, but need to keep my own number.

My phone will allow an esim or second sim.

I will only be abroad for a couple of weeks, so happy to pay for a PAYG for up to 30 days.

Googling has led me down a rabbithole and I cant work out what might be the best option.

Any advice please?

Your phone will have two numbers if you add a second SIM, whether it's an e-SIM or a physical one.

However, if your contacts use WhatsApp (or Signal) to communicate with you, they can continue to use your UK number even if you are on an e-SIM. People think that WhatsApp is tied to a number because the number is your unique identifier on the WhatsApp network, but that's not the case (for example, you can use WhatsApp on a Windows PC with no phone number at all — you just need the number when setting up a new device, to prove it's you).

So you would just need to inform the people who don't use WhatsApp. You could, for example, leave your Indian number in a message on your UK phone's voice mail service.

You might also be able to set up automatic call forwarding from the UK number to the Indian one, although that might incur charges from your UK mobile operator. If you want to do this, it's best to do it before you travel, but that's OK because you can get the e-SIM before you travel too.

(By the way, you have checked that your phone supports e-SIMs, I hope? 🙏 Some people think that all phones can handle them, and are disappointed when they find that theirs can't!)

Thanks for the info. My phone can take esim or a 2nd physical sim.

So if i get a second sim, will whatsapp just work or do i need to do anything? I can set it up on my computer by scanning a qr code, but i dont think i can do that with a second sim can i?

I can give a second number to people who need it, but i would rather be able to use my normal one. We are moving house not long after we get back, so we have solicitors, EA and movers who have my number and i dont want to give a new one. Plus I am currently job hunting, so don't want to miss any important calls either.

I could set up a temp number on an email auto reply, and on a voice mail, but know that people dont always read/listen so could miss it still. Just all seems such a PITA.

My UK sim is with Lebara. India roaming, data and calls, is included but unfortunately no esim.

https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/free-india-roaming.html?srsltid=AfmBOor7EfoKEVYFglfD4OlXoGPYc3WncNmhh8ADfl0lkNLIBx20yqxa

I used BNE esim for a recent trip to the US on the recommendation of a couple of mumsnetters. It was pretty easy to set up and very reasonable, I think a 30 day pass for 20GB of data was less than one day of roaming charges would have been on my contract! India eSIM

Thanks. Thats data only isn't it, so wouldn't work for phone calls?

I am thinking the easist option is going to be getting a local sim and just giving the number to people who need it and hope for the best!

eSim will allow people to message you and call you on WhatsApp but not on your regular number. It can be quite a pain to not receive text messages especially with so
many two factors identification sending you code by text.
If you are expecting calls, you can’t use an eSim..