Guide · ESSENTIALS · Updated 9 SEPTEMBER 2026
Best SIM in Andaman: Airtel, Jio, BSNL or Vi?
Compare Airtel, Jio, BSNL and Vi in Port Blair, Havelock and Neil using TRAI test results. See which SIM to carry and where coverage can fail.
SOURCES CITED INSIDE · CHECKED 9 SEPTEMBER 2026 · DRAWBACKS INCLUDED
Short answer: for the usual Port Blair, Havelock and Neil itinerary, Airtel or BSNL is the safer single-SIM choice. If your main number is Jio, keep it for Port Blair and parts of Havelock, but add Airtel or BSNL before a stay on Neil Island. Vodafone Idea (Vi) is the weakest choice for an island-hopping trip based on the latest detailed TRAI test available.
This is not a permanent promise. The regulator's test was carried out from 16 to 20 January 2025 across South Andaman, Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island), Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island) and the ferry routes between them. Towers, congestion and indoor reception can change. The results are still far more useful than a generic “all networks work” answer.
| Network | What the TRAI test found | Practical verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Airtel | 2G and 4G were tested. Airtel 4G produced usable results at the named Havelock test points in the report. | A sensible single SIM for the standard three-island route, but verify your exact stay. |
| BSNL | 2G and 4G results were recorded across the test. BSNL 4G worked at the named Havelock test points, including places where Jio did not return a 4G/5G result. | The most useful backup to consider when reach matters more than having only one familiar private network. |
| Jio | Often recorded the fastest 4G result at Havelock test points, but TRAI found no Jio 4G/5G coverage on Neil Island. It also had no result at some Havelock points. | Useful in Port Blair and parts of Havelock. Do not make it your only connection for Neil. |
| Vodafone Idea (Vi) | TRAI reported no Vi 3G/4G coverage on Havelock or Neil; only 2G was available on Havelock during the test. | Do not rely on Vi alone for a Havelock and Neil holiday. |
Evidence checked on 9 September 2026. The comparison above reports TRAI's January 2025 test rather than pretending to be a live signal map.
My practical SIM recommendation
If you already use Airtel
Keep your Airtel SIM. It is the simplest one-SIM choice for a normal Port Blair, Havelock and Neil itinerary based on the TRAI results. Download tickets and maps anyway, and ask the accommodation about indoor reception if calls or work matter.
If you already use Jio
Keep Jio, especially for Port Blair and Havelock, but add an Airtel or BSNL connection if Neil Island is in the plan. TRAI's Havelock static tests often recorded strong Jio download results, including 37.37 Mbps at Kalapathar Beach, 50.72 Mbps at Govind Nagar Beach and 51.83 Mbps at Elephant Beach. However, it recorded no Jio 4G/5G at Radhanagar Beach, Kalapathar Chowk Market and the Taj Exotica test point, and no Jio 4G/5G across Neil Island during the test.
Those numbers are test snapshots, not expected speeds for your phone. They show why both “Jio is best” and “Jio does not work in Havelock” are too broad.
If you already use BSNL
Keep BSNL active. The TRAI report recorded BSNL 4G at the Havelock locations where it ran static data tests, including Radhanagar, Kalapathar, Govind Nagar, Elephant Beach, the jetty, hospital and market. BSNL is therefore a practical network to carry for an island-hopping trip. That does not mean it will be the fastest or strongest inside every hotel.
If you already use Vodafone Idea
Take a second SIM from Airtel or BSNL before travelling beyond Port Blair. In the regulator's January 2025 test, Vi had no 3G/4G coverage on Havelock or Neil, and only 2G service was available on Havelock. Vi's overall South Andaman test results should not be read as proof of useful data service on the two tourist islands.
Network by island
Port Blair
Airtel, Jio, BSNL and Vi were all included in TRAI's wider South Andaman exercise. For a Port Blair-only visit, your existing SIM is the reasonable starting point. Still, check the operator's current coverage map for the hotel address and do not assume the airport, hotel room, jetty and a South Andaman road outing will behave identically.
The Port Blair airport arrival guide lists the tickets, pickup details and addresses worth saving before landing.
Havelock Island
Airtel and BSNL are the safer coverage choices. Jio can be very good where it is available, but the TRAI test showed meaningful gaps. Jio returned no 4G/5G result at Radhanagar Beach, Kalapathar Chowk Market and the Taj Exotica test point. Vi had no 3G/4G service on Havelock in the same test.
At other named Havelock points, Jio recorded high test speeds. This makes Jio a good data option for some Havelock stays, not a reliable island-wide answer. Match the network check to the area in the Havelock Island guide and then ask the actual property about the room.
Neil Island
Choose Airtel or BSNL. TRAI explicitly reported no Jio 4G/5G coverage on Shaheed Dweep during its January 2025 exercise. Vi had no 3G/4G coverage there either. This is the clearest reason not to travel with only Jio or Vi when Neil is part of the itinerary.
Signal can still be patchy by address and indoors. Save the onward ferry ticket and Port Blair transfer details before leaving Havelock. Use the Neil Island guide to decide whether one, two or three nights makes sense before judging how important connectivity is to the stay.
What exactly did TRAI test?
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India carried out an operator-assisted drive test over about 170 km of roads and 94 km of coastal routes. It covered South Andaman, Havelock, Neil and the ferry sectors connecting them. The report includes voice calls, moving data tests and static tests at named locations.
Across the combined moving routes, the reported average 4G download throughput was 35.95 Mbps for Airtel, 8.60 Mbps for BSNL, 9.38 Mbps for Jio and 26.02 Mbps for Vi. These figures cover the routes where a provider's network was available. They do not mean Vi had 4G on Havelock or Neil, and they should not be used as a speed forecast for a hotel room.
The same report found that all four operators missed at least one quality benchmark. That is another reason to choose for the exact itinerary instead of declaring an absolute winner.
Check the current coverage maps
TRAI requires operators to publish technology-specific coverage maps. Check the address or pin location rather than searching only for “Andaman”. The government also cautions that actual experience, particularly indoors, can differ from the map.
- Airtel coverage map
- Jio coverage map
- Vi coverage map
- TRAI's mobile coverage map directory, including BSNL
A coverage map is useful for screening. For remote work, ask the hotel for a recent speed test from the room category or work area you will actually use.
What to save offline
- flight and ferry tickets as files or screenshots
- hotel names, addresses and direct contact details
- airport and jetty pickup instructions
- offline maps for Port Blair, Havelock and Neil
- a day-by-day itinerary shared with the travelling group
- one payment fallback that does not depend on the same phone connection
Do not wait until boarding to retrieve a ferry ticket or pickup number. The Andaman ferry guide explains the other route, jetty and reporting checks to complete before the transfer.
Can you work remotely from Andaman?
Yes, from a carefully verified property and with a backup, but not on the strength of an island-level network claim. Ask for a recent download, upload and latency test from the exact room or work area. Confirm whether the result used hotel Wi-Fi, Airtel, Jio, BSNL or Vi. Also ask what happens during a power or broadband fault.
Avoid a critical video call immediately after a flight, ferry or hotel change. A transfer delay and a weak connection are separate risks.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best mobile network in Andaman?
Airtel is the simplest single-SIM choice for the common Port Blair, Havelock and Neil route based on TRAI's latest detailed island test. BSNL is a useful alternative or backup. Jio performed strongly at several Havelock test points but had no 4G/5G result on Neil. Vi should not be your only SIM for Havelock and Neil.
Does Jio work in Andaman?
Yes, Jio is useful in Port Blair and at several parts of Havelock. It is not a safe only-SIM choice for an itinerary including Neil. TRAI found no Jio 4G/5G on Neil in January 2025 and also recorded gaps at some Havelock test points.
Does Airtel work in Havelock and Neil?
Airtel was one of the networks tested across the island route and is the best-supported single private-network choice in the regulator's results. Exact signal and indoor reception still depend on location, so verify the accommodation address.
Is BSNL useful for tourists?
Yes. BSNL recorded 4G results across the Havelock static test locations and is a practical backup for a multi-island trip. Carrying it does not guarantee fast data in every room, but dismissing it as only a slow legacy network would not match the regulator's test.
Does Vodafone Idea work in Andaman?
Vi was part of the wider South Andaman test, but TRAI reported no Vi 3G/4G on Havelock or Neil during its January 2025 exercise. Use another network for an island-hopping itinerary.
Sources and evidence date
- TRAI Operator Assisted Drive Test: South Andaman, Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep, tests conducted 16 to 20 January 2025
- Ministry of Communications: operator coverage maps and their limitations, published 9 April 2025
- Digital Bharat Nidhi: 4G mobile-services project in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Sources and operator map links checked on 9 September 2026. Recheck the maps and ask the exact accommodation about recent indoor reception before travel.