Kuwait

Basics

There are three operators in Kuwait:

• Zain (formerly MTC)
• Ooredoo (formerly Watanya)
• Viva

On all operators 2G is on 900 and 1800 MHz; 3G is on 2100 MHz and 4G/LTE is on 1800 MHz (Band 3) and 800 MHz (Band 20).

Kuwait is connected to 7 key international submarine cables. With mobile penetration at high levels, focus has shifted to the mobile data market. All 3 operators have upgraded networks to support faster downlink speeds and are increasingly focused on mobile content and applications.

Ooredoo and Zain have the best service and coverage. Viva is less reliable, although it's supposed to give good speeds. To find a plan that suits you, check the companies and ask your friends in Kuwait what providers they use.

Prepaid SIM cards cost about KD 2-4 and are widely available all over the country. There are booths of the operators at the international airport.

Zain

Zain in Kuwait is the Group's flagship operation, which was established in 1983 called MTC and became the first telecom operator to launch commercial GSM services in the region and now offers 4G/LTE too. It can still maintain the leading position what coverage, speed and subscribers is concerned.

Availability

Their prepaid product is called "eeZee". Starters are sold in their stores for KD 4 with KD 4 credit: store locator

Recharge cards for KD 1, 1.5, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 25 are sold, extending service for 20 to 365 days.

Data feature packs

To enable data, send NET to 999 or you may subscribe or check your balance from the service menu by dialing *107#. All bundles include 4G/LTE.

Their data bundles are called eeZee monthly bundles valid for 30 days:

Data	Price	Extras	Activation
10 GB	KD 5	WA, FB, VB	R1
50 GB	KD 8	WA, FB, VB	R2
100 GB	KD 12	WA, FB, VB,	R3
200 GB	KD 16	WA, FB, VB, unlimited Zain calls	R4
400 GB	KD 18	WA, FB, VB, unlimited local calls	R5

To activate, text code to 999, go to your personal account or use their app. All plans auto-renew. To cancel, send DCC to 999 then reply with Y for confirmation. Extras are not debited from your allowance and include social media Facebook, WhatsApp and Viber. For extra data to existing packages you can add 10 GB for KD 3 by sending O4 to 999.

Data-only SIM

For data devices Zain sells a data-only SIM with 60 GB plus 60 GB for nighttime use (midnight to 6am) valid for 1 month at KD 6. Extra data are sold for KD 3 per 15 GB add-on.

More information

• APN, Username and Password: pps
• Website in English: http://www.kw.zain.com/en/kw/

Ooredoo (formerly Watanya)

Ooredoo, rebranded from Watanya, and based in Qatar is the 2nd provider in Kuwait. It rivals with Zain and has an equally good coverage and speed in the country, but lost customers recently.

Availability

They sell prepaid starter packs in their stores (branches). Their XPress starter costs a one time activation fee of KD 5 and gives KD 5 credit valid for 30 days.

Recharge cards are sold in values of KD 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 25.

Data feature packs

Default data is 100 fils per MB. They offer these combo packs as base plans for 30 days:

Price	Data	local Calls	Activation
KD 3	2 GB	50 mins	B1
KD 5	10 GB	200 mins	B2
KD 8	50 GB	300 mins	B3
KD 12	100 GB	600 mins	B4
KD 16	200 GB	3000 mins	B5

To activate packs, send code to 500. Packages will auto-renew. To turn off, type *161#. To add more data to the base plans, two data add-ons are offered:

• 1 GB for 30 days: KD 2 - activation: text D1 to 500
• 50 GB for 30 days: KD 5 - activation: text D2 to 500

An add-on can only be activated after subscribing to one of the combo base bundles.

Data-only SIM

For data devices their XPress Internet data-only SIM is sold. This comes with 60 GB data plus another 60 GB valid at night (midnight to 6am) and on weekends (Fri 12am - Sat 12pm) for KD 5. Extra data can be added for KD 3 per 15 GB.

More information

• APN: action.wataniya.com
• Website in English: http://www.ooredoo.com.kw/en

VIVA

VIVA, by Kuwait Telecom Company and Saudi Telecom, is the runnerup and very much in 3rd place in this country. But as newcomer it gives the lowest prices for starter packs and data and gained a substantial share of the market recently.

Availability

They welcome you with their starter pack called allo for KD 2 with the same credit loaded in their. For the first top-up you will receive a bonus of 25%.

Top-up vouchers of KD 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20 give 7 to 365 days of service validity. To top-up by code enter *500*<voucher code>#. To check balance type *555#.

Allo prepaid SIM cards come in two variations:

• local: with local calls and a data allowance
• international: with international calls, but this doesn't contain data

Data feature packs

You need to choose amongst these monthly combo packages for allo local as base plan:

Price	Data	local Calls	Activation
KD 3	2 GB	50 mins	11
KD 5	5 GB	100 mins	12
KD 8	25 GB	150 mins	13
KD 12	50 GB	300 mins	14
KD 18	200 GB	unlimited	15

For activation send code to 510. All bundles auto-renew. As a promotion all allowances are doubled in volume for the first three months after activation of the SIM card.

You can add these boosters valid for 30 days:

• Socializer: KD 1 - 20 GB for social media apps - activation: 35
• All Nighter: KD 1 - 20 GB for nighttime (1am-7am) - activation: 36
• Weekender: KD 1 - 20 GB for the weekends (Fri/Sat) - activation: 37
• Streamer: KD 2 - 20 GB for YouTube and Dailymotion - activation; 34
• Extra GB: KD 3 - 15 GB data add-on - activation: 33

All the boosters don't auto-renew. Activation is by texting code to 510.

Data-only SIM

As data plan for mobile devices, they offer one package called Prepaid Internet: KD 5 for 60 GB data on weekdays and 60 GB on the weekend (Fri 12am- Sat 12pm) valid for 30 days. This SIM card is sold at KD 5 and the same boosters as above can be added too.

More infomation

• APN: viva

• Website in English: http://www.viva.com.kw/en