Basics[]
Montenegro has three network operators:
- One (formerly Telenor)
- Crnogorski Telekom (a.k.a. T-Mobile)
- m:tel
All operators have good coverage in 2G on 900 and 1800 MHz, and on 3G on 2100 MHz. Also, all of them offer 4G/LTE on 800 (B20), 1800 (B3) and 2600 (B7) MHz. The tax of €1 per month for users of mobile telephony that was in place 2012-14, has been abolished again. 5G hasn't started yet, but is in testing phase.
Registration[]
When buying a prepaid package, the customer is obliged to correctly complete a registration form and produce a corresponding identification document for the authorized person at the point of sale. So be prepared to show an ID card or passport and do some paperwork.
From 2017 all operators started using an application for electronic registration of users of prepaid mobile services. The Law on Electronic Communications stipulates that the operators must, without delay, register subscribers of fixed, mobile (postpaid and prepaid), as well as internet services.
All outlets of authorized distributors of SIM cards of mobile operators are equipped with mobile phones running applications for customer registration. This is the first app of its kind in the former Yugoslavia region and one of the first in Europe.
All three operators offer tourist deals during the summer season from June to September which are very attractive.
Roaming[]
Be aware that Montenegro is neither part of the EU, nor of the wider EEA, where since 2017 new international roaming rules have been enforced. So roaming rates using EU/EEA-issued SIM cards are not regulated and can therefore be much higher. Better use a local or regional SIM card.
Instead, from July 2021 Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia have become a single roaming area similar to EU rules. From now on you can roam without surcharges in the Western Balkans using a SIM card from these countries, but not in the EU. more information in our European Roaming Unions article.
One (formerly Telenor)[]
Telenor (formerly Promonte) was owned by the Norwegian provider and sold in 2018 to the Czech PPF Group. In December 2021 PPF Telecom Group announced the 100% sale of Telenor Montenegro to Hungary's 4iG Nyrt . Since 01.03.2022 Telenor changed the name to "One". It covers 98% of the population with 3G and 4G/LTE (see coverage map) and has recently surpassed T-Mobile in customer numbers. From 2016 4G/LTE prepaid was made available.
For the second time in a row, Telenor received the "Best in Test" award in the independent measurement of quality of mobile networks in Montenegro, conducted by Umlaut from November 2020 to April 2021.
Availability[]
Get their SIM cards in stores: Store locator. Also available at Tivat airport and in newsstands throughout the country. At Podgorica airport they are available from "Tobacco" kiosks. There are three kiosks and sometimes only one of them has the SIM, so if you're out of luck at one of them, try the other ones.
Voice and data SIM card[]
Their regular packs are called "Sve u 1" or "Start" and are sold for €5 with the same credit on. Default data is charged at a high €0.509 per MB and speed is up to 21 Mbps.
These regular data packs can be added to the plan up to 21 Mbit/s:
| Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 100 MB | 24 hours | €0.59 |
| 500 MB | 30 days | €2.99 |
| 1 GB | 30 days | €3.99 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | €5.99 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | €9.99 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | €14.99 |
The add-on can be activated with My Menu *123# in the part Offers, Internet offers. It can be activated unlimited number of times during a month. Two out of the four social media apps (Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or Viber) can be activated to be used free of charge.
Data-only SIM card[]
Prepaid data-only SIM Card is for €9.95 with 100 GB of credit included in 15 days in up to 4G/LTE. If you use up included traffic before these 15 days expire, you can continue surfing at reduced speed of 128 Kbps, or you can top-up your internet account by activating one of tariff add-ons and increase the speed again.
With an USB modem you get prepaid data SIM card for €39.95 and 15 GB of traffic in 30 days. Same policy applies. These add-ons with speeds up to 21 Mbps can be bought:
| Price | Validity | Data |
|---|---|---|
| €1 | 24 hours | 1 GB |
| €5 | 5 days | 100 GB |
| €10 | 15 days | 100 GB |
| €15 | 30 days | 100 GB |
If you use up data before the expiry of tariff add-on, you will be able to continue using the internet at reduced speed of 128 Kbps until the expiry of the tariff add-on. The add-on can be activated with My Menu *123# in the menu Offers, Internet offers.
Tourist package[]
For 2023 1 has introduced a Tourist plan with a 4G/LTE card with 500GB/1TB of data:
- 7 days (500GB): €10
- 15 days (500GB): €15
- 30 days (1TB): €20
The tourist package can be extended after the end of the month.
Your previous data package expires at 23:59 of the day.
At the chosen day of reactivation, replenish your account (monthly 100GB cost 10€), then at 0:05 call *140#, choose 2 for English menu and choose Tourist package L for monthly 100GB which cost 10€ - DESCRIPTION. It offers you to activate the package then.
You get a successful activation, so re-check *140# - English - tourist L - status. It should give you something like
In case if you get an error message, call contact center 1700, most of them speak at least moderate English.
Since August 2021, roaming service is not available anymore to users of the Tourist Package tariff plan. Stated package can only be used in Montenegro. If you want to make use of the west-Balkan roaming terms, buy a normal pre-paid package instead.
More info[]
- APN: flat
- APN instruction Note: data-only SIM automatically configures to APN "internet" that doesn't work. You need to set APN manually
- Website in English (partly obsolete): https://www.1.me
Crnogorski Telekom (T-Mobile)[]
Crnogorski Telekom (a.k.a. T-Mobile, formerly Monet) owned by Croatian Telekom (indirectly by Deutsche Telekom) has a good coverage on 2G, 3G and 4G rivalling with Telenor, see coverage map. In 2016 they finally opened 4G/LTE for prepaid too. They cover 70% by the end of 2016 with 4G/LTE using 800, 1800 and 2600 MHz.
Availability[]
Get their SIM cards in their stores: Store locator in local language. Their prepaid SIM starters called Telekom Prepaid are for €5 with €1 credit.
SIM cards are also available at kiosks, but don't get one there - you need to visit a store anyway to register the SIM with your passport. If you install a SIM card from a kiosk before registering, it will invalidate it in their system.
Recharge vouchers of 5, 10 or €20 are available. To top up your account enter *123* then type in the secret number from the voucher and press #. In the end, to confirm, press OK/YES (*123*xxxxxxxxxxxxx# OK). To check the status of your account, enter *122# and, to confirm, press OK/YES. When you top-up online through their website, they give you 10% bonus.
Data feature packs[]
Default data rate outside of packages is 5c per 100 KB. These bundles are offered:
| Data | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 1 days | €4.95 |
| 5 GB | 7 days | €7.50 |
| 7 GB | 15 days | €12.90 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | €7.95 |
One day is 0.00h - 23.59h on the day the option was activated. You can buy a new package ahead of time when all data is used up. For activation type *111# and select package.
For the weekend they have introduced a package valid from Friday until Monday 8pm with 5 GB at €4.95.
They have introduced a new system based on units. 1 unit is 1 GB (!) , 1 minute or 1 SMS for Telecom Prepare. This gives very good data rates:
- 500 units for 7 days: €4.95
- 500 units for 15 days: €7.50
- 500 units for 30 days: €12.90
Data-only SIM[]
They sell a data-only SIM card with "unlimited" (max. 200 GB) internet for 10 days at €9.90. This card has only data and no voice nor text. These options can be added:
- 1 GB for 1 day: €1
- 5 GB for 7 days: €7
- "unlimited" for 10 days: €10 - "unlimited" means 200 GB.
- 20 GB for 30 days: €20
These options need to be added through your online account.
Holiday SIM[]
Telekom has revamped their prepaid tourist package for the 2021 season. These two sizes are sold on special SIM cards:
- 500 GB for 15 days: €10
- 500 GB for 30 days: €15
Status check INFO to 1467. Otherwise, you can buy any regular Telekom prepaid SIM at a newsagent or T-Center for €5 and need to top it up.
More info[]
- APN: tmcg-4g /or/ tmcg-wnw /or/ gprs.monetcg.com
- Website in Montenegrin: https://www.telekom.me/
m:tel[]
m:tel is the newest operator in the country, but battles hard for its position. It's a joint venture between Telekom Srbija and Telekom Srpske. Coverage is in 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE. 5G present in Budva, Podgorica, Cetinje and other cities as well.
Availability[]
Their SIM cards are available in their shops (points-of-sale), at Tivat airport and in press kiosks all over the country.
Their prepaid tourist SIM for €15 comes with €10 credit spent for 500 GBs for 15 days or €10 for 15 days. Calls and SMS paid extra. To activate just call any number or ask the seller to do this.
You can top-up online or at tobacco shops or at big store cashdesks throughout the country.
After first month (or 15 days if you chose cheaper card), you can switch to VRH plan by dialing *105# as described later.
Data and voice SIM []
Their default data rate of €0.061 per 100 KB.
Data feature packs[]
On the VRH plan you have two choices:
- monthly plan: 100 GB, 100 mins and 100 SMS: €7
- Sunday plan: 5 GB, 100 mins: €3
You can choose plans by *105#.
You can check your minutes and SMS allowance by *100# and data by *108#.
For data-only these options can be selected by *105#:
| Data | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 400 MB | 7 days | €2 |
| 3 GB | 7 days | €2.90 |
| 3 GB | 15 days | €3 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | €5.50 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | €9.90 |
Tourist SIM[]
For the tourist season 2021, m:tel offers two tourist SIM cards called Turist:
- m:tel Turist 5: 500 GB for 15 days - €10
- m:tel Turist 10: 500 GB for 30 days - €15
More info[]
- APN: mtelinternet,
- username: internet,
- password: 068,
- authentication: PAP or CHAP, other fields are left blank
- Website in Montenegrin: https://mtel.me/