Airtel International roaming airtel roaming

[certforumz]

How to get OTP without getting charged for International roaming using airtel:
If you are looking to just receive SMS for any purpose say OTP for online transaction then this is the way to go :-
1. Convert your plan from postpaid to pre-paid
2. Turn Off Mobile data on roaming

Thats it. Now you will be able to connect to any provider that your telco has contracts with and be able to receive calls/sms and everything. Of course if you pick calls then you will be charged, same goes for calling/sending sms.
However, as long as your sim is in phone and you have non zero balance, you will not only be able to retain number but also keep getting sms (otps)

If you insist on keeping postpaid then you will have to activate international roaming. This would require you to make a deposit (getting it refunded will be herculean task in itself). This deposit is quite high generally in order of excess of INR 10k (Trust me, I tried to do this).

Also, you can only convert your number form postpaid to pre-paid from within India. They wont convert it to pre-paid for you from outside India (Again, trust me, I have tried to no gain).

Update: I have postpaid airtel pack, and it got activated for internation roaming automatically. Not sent any SMS, but receiving OTP. Not made any outgoing calls yet and not received any calls. Made mobile data OFF. It looks like now a days, even post paid connection will receive OTPs without any access charges of IR. but not sure yet!

Update:
International roaming is now free and pre-activated on both Airtel prepaid and postpaid numbers. In which you will get the free incoming SMS to receive the OTP and other SMS.
If you pickup phone or call some one, you will be charged. Similarly, if you send SMS or use mobile data, you will be charged roaming charges. So just keep mobile data off! and dont pick up phone calls if you want not to be charged by international roaming charges!

However, it appears that AT and T network charges if the  phone rings more than 29 seconds during roaming.