Changes: Bulgaria

Revision as of 13:05, 13 March 2021

National Anthem

Basics

Bulgaria has three major physical network providers in 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE:

A1 Bulgaria formerly known as Mtel (Мтел), owned by Telekom Austria
Telenor (Теленор): formerly known as Globul, owned by PPF Group
Vivacom (Виваком): taken over by United Group (https://united.group) in 2020 ( Russian investors 2015 - 2020 )

This is supplemented by two providers on 4G/LTE only:

T.com (formerly Max Telecom) 4G/LTE on 1800 MHz (B3)
Bulsatcom (Булсатком): 4G/LTE on 1800 MHz (B3)

All three national providers have a good 2G and 3G coverage over 95% of the area. 2G is on 900 and 1800 MHz, 3G on 2100 MHz like in most of Europe. 4G/LTE is supported by all operators on 1800 MHz (B3) only, added now by 2100 MHz (B1) and 900 MHz (B8). Some MVNOs operate on the networks of the three providers, but don't offer good data rates yet.

SIM cards are available in the providers' shops and in large supermarkets. You need a valid passport or ID card for registration. Since 2016, each customer is allowed to own up to only 10 SIM cards and providers are obliged to shut down the cards if this limit is exceeded.

Bulgaria is part of the EU, where from June 2017 new international roaming rules are enforced. In most European countries you can now 'roam like at home' at domestic rates rather than excessive roaming rates.

Note, that Bulgarian providers have blocked some plans for roaming, cap some larger data packages at the domestic rate or still apply surcharges. For specifics about the new regulation check European Union chapter and every provider below.

A1 Bulgaria, formerly Mtel (Мтел)

A1 Bulgaria is owned by Telecom Austria and was rebranded in 2018 from Mtel (Мтел), and before that Mobitel (Мобилтел).

Their prepaid line was called "Prima" (Прима) before and is now called A1 Prepaid. Mtel Coverage Map Mtel has the best 3G coverage in the country with 99.7% of the population in 2015. In 2016 4G/LTE was commercially launched on 1800 MHz (B3) and and covers already 99% of the population in 2020.

Availability

The regular voice and data A1 prepaid card can bought for 6 BGN in A1 stores (locator in Bulgarian) and partner shops in different varieties:

А1 Ваканция Плюс (A1 Vacation Plus): 6 BGN loaded with 1.5 GB data and 30 mins to 50 countries
А1 Комфорт Макс (A1 Comfort Max): 8 BGN loaded with 200 domestic mins and 4 GB data for 14 days
А1 Комфорт Giga (A1 Comfort Giga): 10 BGN with 300 domesitc mins and 6 GB data for 14 days

The SIM card expires 396 days after the last top-up with credit expiring after 90 days. Top-up vouchers are available from 6 to 60 BGN in many stores. They often run different recharge promotions. More information about top-ups is available here.

Data feature packs

Data standard rate is 0.28 BGN per MB.

The A1 Vacation Plus SIM only can be loaded with these add-ons:

Data	Voice	Time	Price	Activation
	50 mins to 50 countries	10 days	9.99 BGN	VS1
	150 mins to 50 countries	30 days	29.99 BGN	VS2
2 GB		10 days	9.99 BGN	DS1
5 GB		30 days	29.99 BGN	DS2
2 GB	50 mins to 50 countries	30 days	24.99 BGN	CS 1

To activate, text code to 789 or type *123# and choose a bundle. They don't renew automatically.

All plans can by added by these packages

Data	Voice (mins)	Time	Price	Activation
300 MB		30 days	2.99 BGN	D2
1.5 GB		30 days	9.99 BGN	D3
1 GB	100 onnet, 100 offnet	15 days	5.99 BGN	C3
2 GB	300 onnet, 150 offnet	30 days	14.99 BGN	C4

To activate, text code to 789 or type *123# and choose a bundle.

They also offer three different top-up schemes offer called A1, P1 and P2:

P2 gives you for a top-up from 6 to 9 BGN 50 dom. mins, 100 mtel mins and 550 MB, and for every top-up of 10 BGN and more 100 dom. mins, 200 mtel mins and 2 GB, all valid for 30 days at a price of 5 BGN. To activate this scheme text P2 to to 789, to stop text 'Stop P2' to 789.
P1 gives you for a top-up from 6 to 9 BGN 80 mtel mins and 100 MB, and for every top-up of 10 BGN and more 150 mtel mins and 500 MB, all valid for 30 days at a price of 3.50 BGN. To activate you need first change to Plus tariff by texting P to 789 and then P1 to 789.
A1 gives you for a top-up from 6 to 9 BGN 100 dom. mins and 1 GB, and for every top-up of 10 BGN or more 200 dom. mins and 2 GB. This offer is for 5 BGN, to activate text A1 to 789

Data SIM

Their new data-only SIM is called A1 Prepaid Mobile Internet. Starters come in three sizes:

15 BGN: 15 GB for 30 days
25 BGN: 30 GB for 30 days

40 BGN: 50 GB for 30 days

Standard rate for overuse is 1.54 BGN per MB.

You can add more data by doing the following top-ups valid for 30 days:

top-up 6-9 BGN: 2 GB
top-up 10-29 BGN: 5 GB
top-up 30 BGN or more: 20 GB

Alternatively, you can activate one of these packages:

Data	Validity	Price
1 GB	10 days	5.99 BGN
2.5 GB	20 days	9.99 BGN
9 GB	30 days	29.99 BGN

For activation pf the packages dial *123#, to check data balance text "Balans" to 1796.

EU roaming

Data is given out in EU roaming at the domestic price. In packages up to 228 MB per every BGN is given out at the "Roam like at home" rate. Beyond this FUP a price of 0.0105 BGN per MB applies. When roaming you will receive a SMS with your exact data allowances.

More info

APN: internet.a1.bg
Website in English: http://www.a1.bg/en

Telenor (Теленор, formerly GloBul)

In 2013 Telenor (part of PPF) from Norway acquired Globul from Cosmote in Greece. In 2014 they changed their logo and name from Globul to Telenor. In 2018 Telenor sold its Bulgarian network to the Czech PPF Group.

They started 4G/LTE in 2015 on 1800 MHz (band 3) covering already 75% of population in 2016, open for prepaid: Coverage map. Umlaut awarded them the best network label in 2019 ans 2020.

Availability

Their new prepaid starter pack is sold in their or in Germanos stores: Telenor.store locator . Mini SIM, micro and nano SIM are available. It comes in three different varieties. The first two here include data valid in EU roaming:

for 8 BGN: including 3 BGN credit, 100 mins to all networks, 200 mins to Telenor, 4 GB data
for 10 BGN: including 3 BGN credit, 100 mins to all networks, 300 mins to Telenor, 6 GB data

The SIM card expires 12 months after a top-up of BGN 10 or more, 2 months after a top-up of BGN 6, and 1 month after a top-up of BGN 5. More information about top-ups is available here. Check balance by texting 'GC' to 125 free of charge.

Data feature packs

These data packs are available for prepaid plans. Out of bundle use or overuse is billed with high 2.40 BGN per MB.

Data	Time	Price	Activation
150 MB	1 day	2.49 BGN	1233*1#
1.5 GB	7 days	4.99 BGN	1233*8#
3.5 GB	30 days	9.99 BGN	1233*3#
7 GB	30 days	14.99 BGN	1233*4#
15 GB	30 days	19.99 BGN	1233*7#

To check remaining data on pack, type *123#. Their smartphone app "My Telenor" can be used to check balance and for adding additional credits.

Data-only SIM

Their new data-only SIM card comes in two starter packs:

Mobile Internet 15: 15 BGN with 15 GB valid for 15 days
Mobile Internet 30: 30 BGN with 30 GB valid for 30 days

There may be older packs at different sizes. It's aimed at tablets and modems, but has voice and text too. Mobile data is only available inside Bulgaria, thus not usable when roaming outside the territory.

As a top-up promotion Telenor gives 3 GB for 14 days when you top-up 9 BGN or more. Overuse is throttled to 64 kbps.

Tourist SIM

For visitors Telenor sells their Prepaid Starter Pack Telenor Tourist for 6 BGN. It contains 30 mins to all EU destinations, Belarus, Bosnia, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine and 1.5 GB data valid only in Bulgaria, for 7 days. Out of bundle use is 0.19 BGN per MB.

These packages can be added for more data or any of those mentioned above:

2 GB for 7 days: 9.90 BGN - activation: text 'VG7' to 125
3 GB for 30 days: 19.90 BGN - activation: text 'VG30' to 125
10 GB for 30 days: 49.99 BGN - activation: text 'DT10' to 125

EU roaming (except data-only SIM)

Data roaming according to Roam like home in the EU applies to all data add-ons on call and data SIM cards such as the Tourist SIM. On the data-only SIM international roaming is blocked.

More info

APN and username: telenor
Website in English: http://www.telenor.bg/en

Vivacom (Виваком, formerly VivaTel)

Vivacom (vivatel or BTC, BTK) is the 3rd provider in the country, but still has a good coverage in 3G in Bulgaria: Vivacom Coverage Map. In 2015 they were sold to Russian-backed Spas Roussev.

4G/LTE started in 2016 on 1800 MHz (B3) in the towns of Sofia, Pernik and Vratsa. The 4G network was extended to Varna, Burgas, Ruse and Plovdiv. The operator has the country’s largest towns within its LTE footprint and 2100 MHz (B1) band is added. All allowances are valid for roaming too, but large packages may be capped.

Availablility

In the store you can buy a starter pack in different plans, among others:

Opa: Plan with 5 BGN airtime: 8 BGN
Get free, Call yo: with 3 BGN airtime and a bonus program for recharges: 6 BGN
Viva: Standard prepaid plan with 10 BGN included: 12.99 BGN
Viva International: with 300 mins to Bulgaria, EU, Russia and Turkey and 6 GB data: 6 BGN
Viva Bonus: 3 BGN credit, 6 GB data and 300 mins included: 8 BGN. On this plan you get a bouns of 2 GB for10 BGN every top-up of 10 BGN or more

The SIM card expires 12 months after the last top-up of BGN 4 or more (with incoming calls only during the 12th month). Top-ups of less than BGN 4 do not extend validity. More information about top-ups is available here (in Bulgarian).

Recharge vouchers are available for 10, 20 and 50 BGN

All these plans don't make a difference for data. Furthermore they offer these combo packs called Bravo valid for 20 days:

Bravo: 300 Vivacom mins, 300 Vivacom SMS and 4 domestic GB: starter pack 6 BGN including 3 BGN credit. Recharge 6 BGN to get 300 mins. 300 SMS and 600 MB or 15 BGN to get 600 mins and 3 GB.
Bravo+: 100 domestic mins and 4 domestic GB: starter pack 10 BGN including 5 BGN credit. Recharge 6 BGN to get 300 mins. 300 SMS and 600 MB or 15 BGN to get 600 mins and 3 GB.

Default rate on Bravo is 0.30 BGN/MB. Note that there is no international roaming on Bravo plans.

Data feature packs

For all these SIMs default data rate is 1.80 BGN per MB outside of bundles and 0.30 BGN / MB for overuse. The following packages are on offer to all plans (except Bravo) above:

Package	Validity	Data	on-net	off-net	Price	Activation
+Talk	7 days	200 MB	900 mins	20 mins	3.99 BGN	M2
+Talk Super	25 days	1 GB	1500 mins	50 mins	6.99 BGN	M3
+Net	7 days	400 MB	450 mins	10 mins	3.99 BGN	D1
+Net Super	25 days	1.5 GB	900 mins	20 mins	6.99 BGN	D2

To activate send code to 1236 or type *123#.

Data-only SIM

Their data-only SIM is called "Easy Traffic": It has no voice nor text, comes with 15 GB included, valid for 30 days at the price of 15 BGN. The following top-up packages valid for 20 days are offered:

2.5 GB: 10 BGN
6 GB: 20 BGN
8.5 GB: 30 BGN
12 GB: 40 BGN
14.5 GB: 50 BGN
18 GB: 60 BGN
20.5 GB: 70 BGN
24 GB: 80 BGN
26.5 GB: 90 BGN
30 GB: 100 BGN

SIM card stays activated for 12 months after the last top-up. Validating the remaining MB can be initiated by sending USSD code *104#. Data packages are valid only inside the territory of Bulgaria, thus not possible to use in roaming.

EU roaming (except data-only Easy Traffic)

Roam like at home is applied to all voice and data SIM packs. Note that on data-only Easy Traffic all international roaming is blocked.

More info

APN: internet.vivacom.bg
Username and Password: VIVACOM
Website in Bulgarian only: http://www.vivacom.bg

T.com (formerly Max Telecom)

T.com (formerly Max Telecom, also MAX) launched the first 4G/LTE network in Bulgaria in 2014 on 1800 MHz and was rebranded to T.com in 2018. It has only a limited coverage in the 20 biggest cities and the resorts along the Black Sea coast in 4G: Coverage Map

Their SIM cards of all sizes and some rental equipment are available at their stores (shop locator) . Note that there is no international roaming on Max SIM cards at all. You can't use them out of the country and their coverage is quite restricted. No calls can be made except of VoLTE oder through OTT apps. Max. speed is 110 Kbit/s for download and 35 Mbit/s for uploads.

Data packages

For mobile internet they sell a prepaid starter pack for 5 BGN with the same balance and 1 GB for 10 weeks.

After having used FUP data volume, speed will be reduced to 256/128 kbps.

They can be topped up by these add-ons:

35 GB for 30 days: 20 BGN
55 GB for 30 days: 30 BGN
100 GB for 30 days: 50 BGN
150 GB for 60 days: 70 BGN

More info

no international roaming available
APN: apn.maxtelecom.bg
Website in English: https://ticom.bg/en/personal/4g-lte/mobile-internet/prepaid

Bulsatcom (Булсатком)

Bulsatcom is a local fibre company thay focuses on triple play products. It was awarded an 4G/LTE license in 2014 and has so far reached a very limited coverage, mostly in major towns and resorts (coverage map: scroll to Мобилният интернет).

No roaming for 2G or 3G is proviced. So make a network scan before you buy a package. Their SIM card is available in their stores (locator), but it's not recommened for travelling, but rather than stationary use and it includes no internatl. roaming. All calls need to be made through VoLTE oder OTT apps.

4G/LTE data offer

These monthly packages for mobile internet via 4G/LTE SIM card are offered with following parameters:

Package	Data	max. Speed DL/UL	Price
Start	20 GB	25 / 8 Mbps	9 BGN
Standart	40 GB	50 / 16 Mbps	11 BGN
Premium	60 GB	75 / 25 Mbps	13 BGN
Max	80 GB	100 / 50 Mbps	16 BGN
Extreme	100 GB	100 / 50 Mbps	19 BGN

Speed will be throttled to 256 kbits download and 128 kbits upload according to their FUP policy. Bulsatcom keeps the right to limit bandwidth during any periods of peak usage of mobile internet services for any user who excess network resources at the expense of other users. There is no international roaming on these plans available.

More info

APN: bulsat.com
Website in Bulgarian only: http://www.bulsat.com

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 *'''A1 Bulgaria''' formerly known as Mtel''' '''(Мтел), owned by Telekom Austria
 *'''Telenor '''(Теленор): formerly known as Globul, owned by PPF Group
-*'''Vivacom''' (Виваком): taken over by United Group UK in 2020 ( Russian investors 2015 - 2020 )
+*'''Vivacom''' (Виваком): taken over by United Group ([https://united.group/ https://united.group]) in 2020 ( Russian investors 2015 - 2020 )
 This is supplemented by two providers on 4G/LTE only: