Aprajita is a contributing Telecom expert at Selectra. With interest in the Telecom sector, she helps users navigate to the best plans and packages offered by Indian Internet, Broadband and DTH providers. Aprajita has spent a decade in content creation, SEO and other digital marketing areas. She focuses more on improving user experience, quality and trust.
Updated on 16/02/2024 min reading
Need more data but can't afford expensive plans with unlimited data? Mobile data usage can be a tricky beast to manage. That's where "Roll Over Data" comes into play. In this article, we'll dive into the world of Roll Over Data, explaining what it is and which networks in India offer this valuable feature.
Roll Over Data, also known as Data Rollover or Data Carry Forward, is a feature offered by mobile network providers that allows you to carry over your unused data from one month to the next. Essentially, it means that if you don't use up all your monthly data allowance, the leftover data doesn't go to waste; instead, it accumulates and is added to your next month's data allowance. It's like saving for a rainy day but for your mobile data.
Rollover data tends to be a cheaper option than paying for a higher data plan or paying penalties for going over your data allotment for the month.
It's called data rollover because, in essence, the data "rolls" over or carries over from one month to the next.
The benefit of data rollover is that it allows you to plan ahead and not lose money. If you know your mobile usage patterns and suspect you'll be using a lot of data next month, you can plan ahead and use less data the month before to ensure you'll have enough the next month.
No More Data Wastage
One of the most significant advantages of Roll Over Data is that it eliminates the frustration of wasting unused data. We've all been there - you've paid for a monthly data plan, but life gets in the way, and you can't use it all. With Roll Over Data, your unused data is saved, ensuring you get the most out of your hard-earned money.
Flexibility and Peace of Mind
Knowing that your unused data will not disappear at the end of the month provides a sense of freedom and peace of mind. You can use your data without constantly worrying about exceeding your limit, and you can even plan to use more data in the months when you know you'll need it.
Typically with data rollover plans, the rollover data is only applied to the next month and cleared afterwards. For example, you could use January data in February, and February Data in March. However, any extra January data does not roll over to March. It gets cleared after a month. Therefore, you cannot accumulate rollover data over several months.
The duration for which rollover data lasts can vary depending on the mobile network provider and the specific terms of your mobile plan. Typically, rollover data is valid for one billing cycle, which is usually one month. Here's how it generally works:
Not all companies offer data rollover. On networks without data rollover, you will lose any unused data on your phone plan at the end of the month.
This means you might waste money by paying for data that you don't end up using. If your internet usage fluctuates from month to month, having a plan with data rollover can be an advantage and could save you money.
Data rollover is a feature offered by many mobile network providers that allows you to carry forward your unused mobile data from one billing cycle to the next. Here's how data rollover typically works:
It's important to note that not all mobile network providers or plans offer data rollover, and the specifics of how it works can vary widely. Therefore, before selecting a mobile plan or to understand the details of your existing plan's data rollover feature, it's recommended to review your provider's terms and conditions or contact their customer service for precise information.
How much data can you roll over? Each plan and provider has different data rollover limits. However, the limit usually ranges from 200GB to 500GB of rollover data per month.
While data rollover appears to be a universally desirable feature, it is not available from all major mobile providers. Data rollover is available from the companies listed below in some way or another.
Bharti Airtel (Airtel), India's leading telecommunications service company, recently launched a "Data Rollover" option for its clients. All leftover monthly data would be carried over and added to the following billing cycle's data benefit, improving the business model for consumers even more.
| Postpaid Plan Name | Data Rollover | Details |
|---|---|---|
| ₹399, ₹1199, ₹999, ₹1499 | 200GB | Beyond consumption of allocated data quota, @ 2p/MB is chargeable. |
Signing up for an Airtel data rollover plan means you must abide by the following terms and conditions:
Vi (Vodafone Idea) has implemented a Vodafone weekend data rollover mechanism for its users, allowing them to transfer over any unused data from the previous day to the weekend.
What is weekend data rollover? Weekend data rollover is similar to month-by-moth rollover data except it works on a weekly basis. Your data from the week rolls over to the weekend.
Previously, any unused data on a daily basis was squandered, but with the new Vi weekend data rollover system, users will be able to utilize all or a portion of the data that their plan covers on the weekend.
With Vi data rollover, any unused data from Monday 0000 to Friday 2400 hours will be added up and made accessible between Saturday 0000 and Sunday 2400 hours.
After 2400 hours on Sunday, any unused data will be lost.
Vi has been the only operator that presently provides such perks to its prepaid customers. Even when the rollover is only good for one week, it helps consumers get more worth out of their subscriptions.
To take advantage of Vi data rollover on your Vi prepaid plans, check below:
If you decide not to opt for Vi weekend data rollover, you can find cheaper plans that include a binge all night offer. Adding Vi binge all night to your phone plan gets you unlimited data at night so you can binge your favourite series, surf the web, video call with friends, etc.
Reliance Jio is another phone provider that's offering data rollover for customer. They've recently introduced 5 new Jio postpaid data rollover phone plans which offer up to 500 GB of data/month. However, it's only available through their postpaid (monthly subscription) plans.
The Jio data rollover plan is only available with Reliance's new Jio Postpaid Plus package, not with its previous Jio prepaid plans.
These plans range from Rs 399 to Rs 1,499 each month and offer several perks like free OTT subscriptions, unlimited calls, Jio international roaming, and more. As part of the package, you'll also receive data rollover up to 500 GB.
| Jio Postpaid Plus Plan | Data Rollover |
|---|---|
| ₹399 Plan, ₹599 Plan, ₹799 Plan | Up to 200 GB |
| ₹999 Plan, ₹1499 Plan | Up to 500 GB |
Unused data is rolled over or moved forward to the following cycle when you utilize data rollover.
Therefore, if you have a data allocation of 2 GB for a particular billing period and only use around 1 GB of data throughout that period, the remaining 1 GB of data will be rolled over to your following month's data allowance. With the rollover data, you'd get a total of 3 GB instead of the normal 2 GB.
The data rollover feature is not available on all plans offered by ISPs. So, make sure you choose the right plan if you want your data rolled over.
Even the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has jumped on the Roll Over Data bandwagon. They offer the "Carry Forward Unused Data" feature, allowing BSNL subscribers to accumulate and use their leftover data.
It is one of BSNL's most common postpaid plans. With this plan, you get a roll over limit of 75 GB and a 100 SMS limit per day.
This plan is known as ‘Ghar Wapsi’ as it’s affordable and provides a rollover of 210 GB, a limit of 100 SMS per day and unlimited calling.
This is one of BSNL's most efficient postpaid plans wherein you get a rollover of 150 GB, a limit of 100 SMS per day and unlimited calling.
One of the BSNL’s most beneficial plans, with a roll-over limit of 225GB and a limit of 100 SMS per day.
It benefits you by preventing the wastage of unused data at the end of the month. Instead of losing the data you didn't use, it accumulates and gets added to your next month's data allowance, providing you with more flexibility and value for your plan.
No, not all mobile carriers in India offer data rollover plans. The availability of data rollover depends on the specific plans and policies of each carrier. Some major carriers like Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL do offer data rollover features in certain plans, while others may not. It's essential to check with your carrier or review their plan details to determine whether data rollover is included.
The limits on data rollover and expiration dates can vary between mobile carriers and plans. Some carriers may impose limits on the amount of data you can carry forward, while others may allow unlimited rollover. Additionally, certain plans may have an expiration date for rolled-over data, meaning you must use it within a specific time frame, or it will be forfeited. It's crucial to read the terms and conditions of your specific plan to understand these details.
