Thanks to the Chennai–Andaman & Nicobar Islands (CANI) undersea optical fiber cable, mobile connectivity in Port Blair and Havelock is significantly better than in past years. However, remote beaches still have zero signal. Here is how to stay prepared.
The CANI Submarine Cable: What Changed?
Before the 2,312-km undersea optical fiber cable was inaugurated, the entire Andaman archipelago relied on slow satellite bandwidth that would crawl at 2G speeds whenever monsoon clouds gathered.
Today, fiber connectivity feeds major island towers. In city centers of Port Blair and Havelock, 4G speeds routinely clock 15–40 Mbps on Airtel and Jio, making UPI payments and video calling feasible.
Airtel vs Jio vs BSNL vs Vi
Here is the unfiltered performance of each major telecom provider across the islands:
- Airtel (Recommended): The most reliable mobile network in Andaman. Strong 4G coverage in Port Blair, Havelock market, and Govind Nagar. Good signal on major hotel belts.
- Jio: Rapidly expanding with reliable 4G data speeds in Port Blair and Havelock. Slightly patchier on Neil Island.
- BSNL: The veteran network with the widest geographic footprint, reaching remote islands like Baratang, Diglipur, and Rangat where private telcos have no towers. Speeds are slower but calls connect.
- Vodafone Idea (Vi): Very weak across the archipelago with zero signal on Neil Island and several Havelock beaches. If you use Vi, carry a secondary Airtel or Jio SIM.
Connectivity by Island: Port Blair, Havelock & Neil
Port Blair: Consistent 4G across all major hotels, Cellular Jail, and markets. Uber/Ola do not operate, but local WhatsApp cab dispatch works smoothly.
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep): Excellent 4G around Village No. 1 to Village No. 5 (Govind Nagar, Vijay Nagar). Signal drops noticeably on Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7) and is completely absent on Kalapathar Beach and Elephant Beach.
Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep): 4G is available near the jetty and Bharatpur, but tends to fluctuate during peak holiday hours when hundreds of tourists access a single tower.
Can You Work Remotely from Andaman?
Yes, but with caveats. If you need stable Zoom calls and git pushes, choose high-end resorts with dedicated leased line Wi-Fi (such as Symphony Palms, Barefoot, or SeaShell). Do not expect café Wi-Fi to support high-bandwidth corporate workloads on remote beaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a local prepaid SIM card at Port Blair airport?
Yes, there are telecom kiosks near the exit gate of Veer Savarkar Airport. However, due to security regulations, activation can take 24 to 48 hours. It is far better to activate national roaming on your mainland Airtel/Jio SIM before arriving.
Do UPI payments (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm) work reliably?
In Port Blair and Havelock town, most shops and cafes accept UPI. On Neil Island and remote beach stalls, network timeouts are frequent. Always carry ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 cash in small denominations.
