Basics
Flag of Samoa
Samoa is an island nation in the Pacific ocean. Up until 1997 it was officially called West Samoa as the Eastern part of the archipelago is still a territory attached to the United States. While Samoa uses international country code +685, American Samoa uses the American code +1 684.
In the independent state of Samoa in the West, nowadays simply called Samoa, with its two main islands Upulo and Savai'i, there are 2 operators:
- BlueSky Samoa
- Digicel Samoa
Both operators have 2G/GSM on 900 MHz and 3G/UMTS/HSPA+ on 900 MHz/2100 MHz. 3G/HSPA+ is marketed as a "4G" network, but real 4G/LTE started in 2017 on BlueSky using 700 MHz (B28) and 1800 MHz (B3) bands. Make sure that your phone supports 3G/UMTS on both 900 MHz and 2100 MHz frequency bands or you'll get a spotty 3G at best.
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Flag of American Samoa
In the Eastern part called American Samoa, only one GSM provider is on the air. As a US territory, it uses North American frequencies instead. 2G/GSM is on 850 MHz and 1900 MHz and 3G on 850 MHz. 4G/LTE was launched in March 2017 on 700 MHz (B12) and 1900 MHz (B2):
- BlueSky American Samoa
The other provider in American Samoa ASTCA (for American Samoa Telecommunications Authority) uses CDMA instead, that is not compatible to GSM systems.
BlueSky Samoa
BlueSky Samoa was formerly called SamoaTel. It's mostly owned by BlueSky Communications and other investors from Samoa and American Samoa. It's the incumbent and bigger provider on the islands. It holds the monopoly as a landline and ADSL supplier, but faces competition from Digicel in the mobile sector. Still, it has the better coverage at slightly higher prices: coverage map.
Availability
Main offices are in Apia and around on the islands. Their SIM card is sold for SAT 10 and comes with SAT 5 credit.
Electronic top-ups called e-charge can be bought at many stores throughout Samoa or online. They are sold from SAT 1 to 100 and valid for 30 days each. For balance, dial *131#
Voice and data SIM
Default rate is SAT 0.33 per MB. These packages are offered:
| Package | Price | Data | Time |
| Daily Lite | SAT 2 | 500 MB | 24 hours |
| Daily Super | SAT 3 | 700 MB | 24 hours |
| 2 Day Lite | SAT 5 | 1 GB | 2 days |
| 2 Day Super | SAT 6 | 1.5 GB | 2 days |
| 5 Day Lite | SAT 7 | 2 GB | 5 days |
| 5 Day Super | SAT 11 | 2.5 GB | 5 days |
| 5 Day Premium | SAT 20 | 6 GB | 5 days |
| Weekly | SAT 15 | 4 GB | 7 days |
| Bi-Monthly Pass | SAT 45 | 10 GB | 15 days |
| Bi-Monthly Premium | SAT 100 | 12 GB | 15 days |
| Monthly Pass | SAT 100 | 25 GB | 30 days |
To purchase a bundle, text its code to 133 or dial *123#.
They have issued special packages for:
- nighttime use (midnight-6am):
- SAT 2.99: 2.5 GB
- SAT 4.99: 6 GB
- for Facebook or You Tube:
- 3 GB FB/YT for 1 hour: SAT 1
- 1 GB FB/YT and 500 MB data for 2 days: SAT 3
- 1 GB FB/YT and 700 MB data fpr 3 days: SAT 6
- 1 GB FB/YT and 1 GB data for 7 days: SAT 11
Data-only SIM
Data-only SIM is marketed as SpeedNet. It's available as prepaid and postpaid. Make sure that you get prepaid one. Default data rate is SAT 0.32 per MB which is rather expensive, so you'd be better off with data packages. These packages are available:
| Price | Data | Time |
|---|---|---|
| SAT 10 | 3 GB | 7 days |
| SAT 20 | 6 GB | 7 days |
| SAT 30 | 8 GB | 7 days |
| SAT 50 | 13 GB | 14 days |
| SAT 80 | 17 GB | 30 days |
| SAT 120 | 28 GB | 30 days |
| SAT 150 | 31 GB | 30 days |
All taxes are included.
Roaming
Calls, texts or data use with BlueSky American Samoa (see below) is considered to be roaming and for a surcharge.
More info
- APN: 4g.bluesky
- Website: http://blueskysamoa.ws
Digicel Samoa
Digicel Samoa is a unit of Digicel Pacific and the only rival of BlueSky in the Western part of Samoa. There are quite visible on the islands, but still have a lower coverage at slightly cheaper prices. They started in 2006 with 2G/GSM and 2012 with 3G/HSPA+ services and in 2016 with 4G/LTE on 1800 MHz (B3) and 700 MHz (B28): LTE coverage map 3G coverage map 2G coverage map.
Digicel Samoa, has completed its network upgrade and covers 90% of the population with its 4G/LTE network in 2018. It has now an estimated coverage of >70% earlier this year, with a focus on Tuasivi, Salelologa, Vaiola, Fa’a’ala, and Upolu (Apia, A’Ana, Mulifanua, and Opulu).
Availability
There is a retail kiosk at the Faleolo Internatl. Airport. Sales points are in Apia and around: store locator. Sometimes they give out the SIM for free at the airport, at other times you need to pay a few SAT. A new SIM costs SAT 5 with some promotional voice credit but no data credit.
Top-ups can be bought at many stores throughout Samoa as direct top-up from SAT 1, as vouchers called flex cards of SAT 5 and 10 or online .
Data feature packages
Out of bundle rate is SAT 0.33 per MB.
The following packages are available:
| Price | Data | Time |
| SAT 3 | 500 MB | 24 hours |
| SAT 5 | 1 GB | 3 days |
| SAT 10 | 2.5 GB | 7 days |
| SAT 20 | 6 GB | 30 days |
| SAT 50 | 15 GB | 30 days |
To purchase, dial *123#, press 4 (for data) and choose the package.
To check money and data balance, dial *123#.
More info
- APN: web.digicelsamoa.ws
- Website: http://www.digicelsamoa.com
BlueSky American Samoa
In the Eastern part of the Samoan islands which are attached to the US, only one GSM provider is on the air. BlueSky American Samoa is mostly owned by BlueSky Communications and other investors from Samoa and American Samoa. As often in small island nations the prices for data are pretty high, certainly higher than in the US. All prices in American Samoa are given in US$ (USD).
Note that they are using different frequencies than in the West: 2G is on 850 MHz and 1900 MHz, 3G is on 850 MHz. Like in the west, their 3G/HSPA+ network is called "4G". Real 4G/LTE started in March 2017 and is branded as "4G+" on 700 MHz (B12) and 1900 MHz (B2).
Coverage is available in these townships: Onenoa, Tula, Alao, Utumea, Auasi, Aoa, Amouli, Aunuu, Alofau, Pagai, Fagaitua, Sailele, Masefau, Utusia, Amoa, Auto, Alega, Aumi, Laulii, Onesopo, Aua, Afono, Vaitia, Lepua, Loaloa, Atuu, Satala, Pago Pago, Fagasa, Fagatogo, Utulei, Fagaalu, Fatumafuti, Matuu, Faganenea, Avau, Nuuuli, Malaeimi, Faleniu, Pavaiai, Ili’ili, Tafuna, Vaitogi, Tafeta, Aloau, Asu, Futiga, PuaPua, Taputimu, Vailoa, Leone, Amaluia, Asili, Afao, Nua Seetaga and Amanave: coverage map
Availabilty
Prepaid SIM cards are available from their store in Laufou Center in Nu'uuli for free. When you recharge at least US$ 5 you will get 3 GB, 500 local mins and 1000 local SMS.
Top-ups can be made at many top-up points from US$ 1 by e-charge can be found on the islands. You can also topup online on their website using PayPal. Simple registration with name and email is required. Name doesn't need to be real, but email is verified.
Data feature packages
Out-of-bundle use and use in Samoa is charged at US$ 0.16 per MB.
These data packages are available:
| Package | Price | Data | Time |
| $2 Plan | US$ 2 | 800 MB | 24 hours |
| $4 Plan | US$ 4 | 1.54 GB | 24 hours |
| $6 Plan | US$ 6 | 3 GB | 5 days |
| $10 Plan | US$ 10 | 5 GB | 5 days |
| $25 Plan | US$ 25 | 10 GB | 15 days |
| $35 Plan | US$ 35 | 12 GB | 15 days |
To buy a prepaid data bundle, dial *888# option 3 “Buy Data Bundles”. To check your data balance, dial *888# option 1 “View Balance” and you will receive two SMS: one with your prepaid balance remaining and another with your MB remaining on your bundle.
Roaming
BlueSky Samoa (see above) and BlueSky American Samoa are considered two different networks, so bundles do not apply in Samoa and you are charged the out-of-bundle rate while there
More info
- APN: internet
- Website: http://www.bluesky.as/blueskyweb/