Sims For Use In Africa

Tremont · 14-11-2006, 04:55

Howdy,

I've got lots of great info from this forum, so thanks.

I've been trying to figure out what International SIM card will work best for an upcoming trip to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. I have used local SIMs before, but switching the numbers on multiple trips has been a headache, and forget calling back to Canada (which is home).

I've been looking at Hopmobile or MonacoPlus: they seem to be the same thing and both offer coverage all over Africa. This leads me to ask, does this really work?

I emailed Hop and asked them, and after about a week they replied that sure, the card works in the countries I specified. Not that I don't believe them, it's just that...well...I find that hard to believe.

Any experiences with using these cards in Africa?

Thanks!

BTW I have a Motorola V551 GSM quad band phone.

prion · 14-11-2006, 07:05

Hop uses the roaming agreements of a Ghanan network that is why it has very good coverage in Africa.

Another option would be 09 which appears to cover all these countries and has free incoming!

I have not used it in them so I can not be sure if it works or not.

Before you decide on 09 have a look at other posts about it and some issues they are having

DRNewcomb · 14-11-2006, 10:26

I would want to make sure I have a back-up plan to go along with the cheap one. This is a trip where I'd also take my Mobal card along, just in case.

dg7feq · 14-11-2006, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tremont

Howdy,

I've got lots of great info from this forum, so thanks.

I've been trying to figure out what International SIM card will work best for an upcoming trip to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. I have used local SIMs before, but switching the numbers on multiple trips has been a headache, and forget calling back to Canada (which is home).

I've been looking at Hopmobile or MonacoPlus: they seem to be the same thing and both offer coverage all over Africa. This leads me to ask, does this really work?

I emailed Hop and asked them, and after about a week they replied that sure, the card works in the countries I specified. Not that I don't believe them, it's just that...well...I find that hard to believe.

Any experiences with using these cards in Africa?

Thanks!

BTW I have a Motorola V551 GSM quad band phone.

Beware, 09 Mobile has Namibia on their roaming list but the card does not work there at all. We tried 2 months ago and it did not even got connected to the network.

Chris

Tremont · 14-11-2006, 15:49

Good advice from you all.

This is the thing, it seems, with these cards. They promise you coverage, but I know if it doesn't work for me at all in Africa, I don't get the feeling any of the providers are going to care.

Although I just got a reply email from Darren at intouchusa.com

I noted to him that I have tried to contact Hop with slow results, and he suggested that it's better to deal with the resellers (like intouchusa).

He answered all my questions, and states that Hop works in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Well, I guess I'll let you folks know if it works once I'm over there...

DRNewcomb · 14-11-2006, 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by dg7feq

Beware, 09 Mobile has Namibia on their roaming list but the card does not work there at all. We tried 2 months ago and it did not even got connected to the network.

Was this for both incoming and outgoing calls? Would the SIM register?

dg7feq · 15-11-2006, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRNewcomb

Was this for both incoming and outgoing calls? Would the SIM register?

the SIM did not even register on the network.
This also happened to another user who informed me over the telefon-treff.de webboard.

Chris

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	(#1 (permalink))
Tremont (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 2 Join Date: 14 Nov 2006	14-11-2006, 04:55 Howdy, I've got lots of great info from this forum, so thanks. I've been trying to figure out what International SIM card will work best for an upcoming trip to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. I have used local SIMs before, but switching the numbers on multiple trips has been a headache, and forget calling back to Canada (which is home). I've been looking at Hopmobile or MonacoPlus: they seem to be the same thing and both offer coverage all over Africa. This leads me to ask, does this really work? I emailed Hop and asked them, and after about a week they replied that sure, the card works in the countries I specified. Not that I don't believe them, it's just that...well...I find that hard to believe. Any experiences with using these cards in Africa? Thanks! BTW I have a Motorola V551 GSM quad band phone.

	(#2 (permalink))
prion (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Pioneer Posts: 584 Join Date: 01 May 2006 Location: Greece Country:	14-11-2006, 07:05 Hop uses the roaming agreements of a Ghanan network that is why it has very good coverage in Africa. Another option would be 09 which appears to cover all these countries and has free incoming! I have not used it in them so I can not be sure if it works or not. Before you decide on 09 have a look at other posts about it and some issues they are having

	(#3 (permalink))
DRNewcomb (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Professionist Posts: 1,252 Join Date: 27 Feb 2004 Location: Mississippi, USA Country:	14-11-2006, 10:26 I would want to make sure I have a back-up plan to go along with the cheap one. This is a trip where I'd also take my Mobal card along, just in case.

	(#5 (permalink))
Tremont (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 2 Join Date: 14 Nov 2006	14-11-2006, 15:49 Good advice from you all. This is the thing, it seems, with these cards. They promise you coverage, but I know if it doesn't work for me at all in Africa, I don't get the feeling any of the providers are going to care. Although I just got a reply email from Darren at intouchusa.com I noted to him that I have tried to contact Hop with slow results, and he suggested that it's better to deal with the resellers (like intouchusa). He answered all my questions, and states that Hop works in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Well, I guess I'll let you folks know if it works once I'm over there...