Basics[]
Mayotte (French: La Mayotte) is an insular department and region of France located in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique close to the Comoros. Mayotte became a French overseas department in 2011 and an outermost region of the European Union (and the Eurozone as well) in 2014. Around 220,000 inhabitants live on 374 km2 area.
Three providers operate in Mayotte:
- SFR Mayotte
- Orange Mayotte
- Only (by Outremer Télécom, soon: Free mobile)
The French overseas departments are regulated by Arcep, the national French regulator. 2G is on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz, 3G on 2100 MHz. Arcep released licenses for 4G/LTE in 2016 to be started in 2017 on 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz (Bands 1, 3, 7 and 20). A 4th LTE license was awarded to BJP Partners that started in 2019 on 4G/LTE only as:
- Maoré Mobile
In 2016 Only was taken over by Iliad, owner of Free mobile in France and acquired a 4G/LTE license. A market entry of Free with rebranding has been expected for a while now, but hasn't happened so far unlike in La Réunion. SFR and Orange have started 4G/LTE in 2017 on 800 MHz (band 20).
Like in France, SIM cards are not sold at the airport, but only in the local shops and outlets ("boutiques") of the providers. You need to bring an ID card or passport for registration. Top-up vouchers are sold in many stores.
EU roaming[]
From 2017 new international roaming rules are enforced based on 'roam like at home' at domestic rates rather than excessive roaming rates. For more details check the European Union section.
Given the high prices for data on the island, you may think of using your an EU-issued SIM card for roaming instead of a local SIM. Always check if Mayotte is really included within the offered roaming countries and it must be mentioned specifially as roaming destination. From 2017, this option may prove to be the cheaper alternative, if you plan ahead.
SFR Mayotte[]
SFR Mayotte, operated by French SFR and owned by Numericable is the market leader in Mayotte having about 3/4 of all customers with the best coverage and speed at the highest rates. It has a 99% coverage in 2G and 70% in 3G: coverage map. 4G/LTE has started in 2017 and is open for prepaid. It has the highest prices on the island.
Availability[]
Their prepaid SIM cards dubbed Yangou La Carte 976 Mobile by SFR: La Carte are available in their stores throughout the island (locator) for €15. They come with €5 pre-loaded credit and €10 bonus for your first top-up within one month after activation. It doesn't make a difference which plan to choose for data.
Top-ups are available in many stores or online.by credit card ranging from 3 to €40 giving 7 to 60 days of validity. To check balance, call 950 for free.
Data option[]
There are now two data options, with speeds of up to 4G/LTE with 150 Mbit/s, but throttled to 2G with 128 Kbit/s having reached the quota. For 1GB for 1 day for €1, text 1WEB to 976, and for 5 GB for 5 days for €5 text 5WEB to 976.
If you also need voice and SMS there is an unlimited voice/SMS option with 5GB of hard-capped data valid for 15 days, text 1TOUT to 976.
Note that there is no data roaming in Reunion, metropolitan France, or the EU.
More info[]
- APN: sl2sfr (that's a small L)
- Website in French: http://www.sfr.yt
Orange Mayotte[]
Unlike in mainland France, Orange is only number 2 in Mayotte. Nevertheless they are mostly on par with SFR in coverage and speed, but sell it at much lower prepaid rates. 4G/LTE has started in 2017 and covers more than 90% of population: 2G/3G/4G coverage map
Availability[]
Their prepaid SIM card is called Carte Ankili and available in their sales points (locator) for €5 as Ankili Eco and €10 as Anikili Numero préféré. It includes €5 after activation and another bonus of €5 for the first top-up. For their new 4G, you need a 4G-enabled SIM card.
To recharge you can log into your personal account online or buy one of the many vouchers sold all over the island. They are offered from €2 to €30 giving 6 to 62 days of validity. Check balance by #123#.
Data options[]
Data is at a default rate of only €0.004 per MB on their prepaid card. With some cards you need to activate data by #111#. Recently, they've introduced two Pass Data add-on options. Activate by dialing #111#, check data balance with #123#.
- 1 GB for 1 day: €1
- 4 GB for 7 days: €4
Voice/SMS/Data combo options are also available:
- unlimited voice/SMS plus 1 GB for 1 day: €2
- unlimited voice/SMS plus 5 GB for 7 days: €7
- Unlimited voice/SMS plus 3 GB for 30 days: €20
Forfaits[]
Orange in Mayotte lets you buy forfaits too. These are rolling contracts that can be topped up by vouchers (or French credit cards) and can be terminated any time. They include unlimited calls and SMS within Mayotte and to France and a data volume per month:
- with 2 GB: €19
- with 5 GB: €29
- with 10 GB: €39
Using more, your speed will be throttled, but you can add 500 MB for 7 days at €2.99, 1 GB for 15 days at €4.99 or 5 GB for 30 days at €9.99 by typing #111#.
Data available on both prepaid and rolling contracts can be used in metropolitan France, the EU, and Switzerland at no extra cost. Roaming in Madagascar, Mauritius, and South Africa is also available at a cost of €29 for 2 GB for 31 days. Activate by dialing #111#.
More info[]
- APN: orangerun Username and Password: orange
- Website in French: http://mayotte.orange.fr
Only (by Outremer Telecom, soon: Free mobile)[]
Only is the smallest provider in Mayotte. It was often sold and resold and in 2015 acquired by Iliad, mother of Free mobile in France. Together with a new 4G/LTE license it's expected that they relaunch and attack with lower prices in 2017/8 as their offers are not competitive right now. Unlike in Reunion, Free hasn't started in Mayotte yet. It has a lower coverage, but is still sufficient in the populated areas, now with 4G/LTE: coverage maps.
Availability[]
Their standard prepaid SIM card is simply called Card ON or Card Nafassi. It's available in their stores (locator) for €5 only with €4 credit and another €1 bonus for the first top-up.
Top-up vouchers are sold in shops of 3, 5,10 and €20 giving 7 to 60 days of validity. The €20 top-up voucher comes with €2 bonus credit. Check balance by calling #111#.
Data options[]
Only now offers two data-only and one combo package:
- Option Internet 2Go: €1 for 2 GB for 1 day
- Option Internet 5Go: €4 for 5 GB for 4 days
- Istawi 1000: €3 for unlimited voice, SMS, and 1 GB for 2 days
Allowances in the Istawi combo are good for local use as well as to Reunion and metropolitan France. Allowances in all options are valid in the EU as well.
In addition, the Carte ON offers 10 MB of bonus data with each top-up.
Overage rates vary depending on your SIM:
- Carte ON: €0.10 per MB
- Carte Nafassi: €0.05 per MB
More info[]
- APN: onlywap
- Website in French: http://www.only.yt/
Maoré Mobile (4G-only)[]
Maoré Mobile, backed by telecoms service provider Be Just Telecom Partners (BJT Partners), has launched 4G/LTE services in Mayotte in April 2019.
The LTE service is currently available in Mamoudzou, Dembeni, Tsararano, Ongojou, Iloni, Chiconi, Tsingoni, Combani, Kaweni, Majicavo and Labattoir, encompassing 35% of the island’s territory and 60% of the population: coverage map. There is no roaming on 2G or 3G networks.
Availability[]
Their standard prepaid SIM card is available in Douka stores (locator) for €5 only with €5 credit
Top-up vouchers are sold in shops or online by credit card for €2, €5, €10, €20, €50 or €100.
Check balance by calling #950#.
Data options[]
Data has a very low default rate of €0.003 per MB.
These combo packages can be added and come with a data quota, unlimited calls and texts to Mayotte, France and DOM valid for 30 days:
- 1 GB: €15, activation: #515#
- 5 GB: €25, activation: #525#
- 10 GB: €30, activation: #530#
- 20 GB: €35, activation: #535#
There is also a data coupon available with 5 GB for 7 days at €5 sold in some resellers stores.
More info[]
- APN: mmobile
- Website in French: https://maoremobile.yt