Basics
Serbia has three network operators:
- mts (by Telekom Srbija)
- Yettel. (formely Telenor, by Czech PPF Group)
- A1 Serbia (by Austrian A1)
The first MVNO Globaltel has been on the market since 2016 using the A1 base station network. Although they are the smallest operator, they try to attract a larger number of users with their low prices.
Note that all Serbian providers have been operating their networks in northern areas of Kosovo for historical reasons. mts operation was finally legalized in 2016 as mts d.o.o., when it received a formal licence for Kosovo. Yettel's and A1's operations have ended in 2017 there. For more details about mts in this area, check our Kosovo* chapter.
In 2021 Telekom Srbija (mts) led with a market share of 43.8%, ahead of Yettel 31.1%, A1 24.4% and Globaltel 0.6%. For 2G 900 MHz and 1800 MHz are used, for 3G 900 MHz and 2100 MHz and for 4G/LTE 800 MHz and 1800 MHz. 5G hasn't started yet. According to OpenSignal in February 2021 all three operators were on par with a 4G availability of 86-90% and average download speeds of 27-30 Mbit/s. All operators started to provide VoLTE for its subscribers.
Roaming
Be aware that Serbia 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 about this situation in our European Roaming Unions article.
mts (by Telekom Srbija)
mts is the wireless subsidiary of state-owned Telekom Srbija with 3876 LTE base stations: 2G/3G/4G coverage map. On the map you can see that their network expands to parts of Kosovo* where it can be used without roaming.
mts is the mobile network operator with the greatest number of subscribers in Serbia. It was founded in 1997 and started to provide mobile communications service in 1998. Telekom Srbija operates its 4G network at 800 MHz and 1800 MHz. Additionally, it operates a 3G network at 900 MHz and 2100 MHz and a 2G network at 900 MHz.
mts is market leader in Serbia and were chosen to be the best mobile network in Serbia for 2019/20/21 by The Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (RATEL).
On newer SIM cards 4G/LTE is finally supported.
Availability
You can buy the SIM card called "moj pripejd" or "sve cool" in every mts store or from one from many newsstands in Belgrade:
- Moj pripejd: RSD 400 for a voice and data SIM card with an initial credit of RSD 25 and 5 GB data for 7 days.
- Sve Cool: RSD 600 for a voice and data SIM card with an initial credit of RSD 50 and 15 GB for 15 days.
For new prepaid users you can activate additional 5 GB for social apps (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Viber and WhatsApp) by Moj mts app.
Combo packages
mts offer two combo plans which are valid for 30 days.
- Plan 100: 1 GB, 5 GB for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Viber and WhatsApp, 100 mins/SMS RSD 400,
- Plan 200: 2 GB, 10 GB for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Viber and WhatsApp, 200 mins/SMS RSD 600.
Recharges
If you want to top-up online, you must register on personal portal "moj mts" by entering your number, and then you get sms code. Afterwards, you can use Visa, MasterCard i Maestro to top up your credit. On the newsstands, supermarkets and all places with mts logo, you just tell the vendor your number and it gets recharged electronically. Prepaid credit stays valid for 90 days from the last top-up, while the SIM card is valid for 12 months from date of its activation or last top-up. Minimum top-up amount is RSD 300. They give bonuses for top-ups:
- up to RSD 400: 1 GB
- more than RSD 600: 4 GB
Data packages
Default data rate on voice & data SIM cards is RSD 60 per MB. These packages are offered:
| Volume | Validity | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 MB | 1 day | RSD 50 | NET50 |
| 1 GB | RSD 100 | NET100 | |
| 200 MB | 7 days | RSD 125 | NET125 |
| 1 GB | RSD 200 | NET 200 |
For activation text code to 687. All packages auto-renew, to stop text <activation code> STOP to 687.
For social media you can activate special packages for 30 days, so that their volume is not debited from your data allowance. Facebook and Twitter are RSD 69 each, Viber and WhatsApp RSD 99 each and a triple pack of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter is for RSD 299. Activation is through *100#.
They also offer a discount package for RSD 299 per month. This discounts the per MB rate from 60 to RSD 30, but not the packages.
Tourist SIM
Mts sells two prepaid tourist SIM cards in their own stores (see above), and newsstands. They have been opened for 4G/LTE:
- Tourist SIM: RSD 600 including 15 GB for 5 days and RSD 25 credit
- Super Tourist SIM: RSD 1,800 including 10 GB for 30 days, and unlimited on-net minutes
All allowances are valid for 30 days. Data outside of allowances is at RSD 60/MB. SIM card stays active for 11 months without being topped up. Top-ups are made by regular mts-e top-ups, available in the country only. Both tourist lines can't be switched. There are two extension packs:
- 3 GB for 7 days: RSD 600
- 5 GB for 7 days: RSD 900
Activate through *100# in Serbian or *300# in English.
Roaming
From July 2021 you can use all of your bundles in the Western Balkans. When you overuse, you'll be charged at RSD 61,44 /MB.
More info
- APN: gprswap /or/ gprsinternet /or/ 3Gmondo /or/ prepaidnet /or/ 3gnet
- Username: mts
- Password: 064
- Website in Serbian: http://www.mts.rs
Yettel. (formerly Telenor)
new brand
Yettel (previously known as Telenor) has been present in Serbia since 2006, Since March 2018, Yettel is owned by PPF investment fund. Yettel operates its 4G network at 800 MHz and 1800 MHz, and partly at 2100 MHz. It operates its 3G network mainly at 900 MHz, with limited additional 2100 MHz coverage, and its 2G network at 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. It's the 2nd provider in the country with a good coverage: 2G 3G 4G/LTE coverage map.
Availability
Prepaid SIM cards are available in Yettel stores (store locator) or from one from many newsstands in the country. There are currently 2 prepaid plans :
- Yettel pripejd: RSD 400 for a voice and data SIM card with RSD 0 credit valid for 7 days. As a promotion they give you 5 GB of data and RSD 2000 for domestic calls and SMS (no value-added services) for 7 days after activation by calling USSD code *111*1#.
- Yettel pripejd plus: RSD 600 for a voice and data SIM card with RSD 0 credit valid for 15 days. As a promotion they give you 15 GB of data and RSD 6000 for domestic calls and SMS for 15 days after activation by calling USSD code *111*1#.
Using their "Moj Yettel" app (Google Store, App store) you can choose two apps out of Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, Twitter or Instagram that are not debited from your data allowance, but for maximum of 10 GB for each one.
old brand
Recharge vouchers are available in 200, 300, 500 and RSD 1000. Recharge instructions can be found in the back of the voucher. Electronic charge validation period is 330 days plus 90 days additional charging period.
Online recharge can only be done with a Serbian and a few other credit cards online or with any credit card on 3rd party agencies like MobileRecharge.com, TopUp.com, or www.ding.com where extra fees apply. If you fail to top-up your account after 60 days the remaining unused credit will be deleted. If in the following 300 days you fail to top-up the account again, the number will be disconnected.
Data feature packs
Internet is blocked without a package or the inital allowance of the starter. These packages are offered:
| Validity | Data | Roaming | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 100 MB | n/a | RSD 35 | SMS to 3282 with text "Da100" |
| 500 MB | RSD 80 | SMS to 3282 with text "Da500" | ||
| 30 days | 250 MB | RSD 209 | SMS to 9000 with text "250" | |
| 500 MB | RSD 319 | SMS to 9000 with text "500" | ||
| 1 GB | RSD 429 | SMS to 9000 with text "1" | ||
| 3 GB | 1.5 GB | RSD 639 | SMS to 9000 with text "3" | |
| 10 GB | 3 GB | RSD 1099 | SMS to 9000 with text "10" | |
All packages will auto-renew. To check your balance, call *131#. You will receive the 20% more traffic when you activate the package through the Yettel app. Note that the roaming cap applys to roaming in Western Balkans, not in the EU.
For social media, monthly add-ons are offered for unlimited use of:
- Facebook: RSD 159
- Twitter: RSD 55
- Deezer: RSD 495
- Instagram: RSD 159
- WhatsApp: RSD 109
- Viber: RSD 109
- HBO Go: RSD 809
Activation is done through "Yettel" app.
Data-only SIM
They sell their data-only SIM card as:
- RSD 999: data-only SIM card with 50 GB valid for 30 days.
- RSD 5.000: data-only SIM with a 4G mobile hotspot (Mifi) and 50 GB valid for 30 days
On the data-only SIM default rate is at a low RSD 1 per MB. Additionally these packages valid for 30 days can be added:
| Data | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | RSD 399 | Internet 1 |
| 3 GB | RSD 599 | Internet 3 |
| 10 GB | RSD 999 | Internet 10 |
For activation, text code to 9000.
Tourist SIM
On the Prepaid Internet Tourist package you will get a SIM card with 50 GB of free traffic (activation by sending SMS "START" to 9000) which you can use within 15 days from the package activation for RSD 999.
You will buy another 50 GB for 599 rsd valid for 30days on the same sim card.
If you use up the free traffic before these 30 days expire, you can recharge with one of the internet top-ups or tariff add-ons or continue surfing from credit for the price of RSD 1 per MB.
International roaming
All prepaid users will have international roaming activated 90 days after activation of SIM card. If you need it earlier, you need to go to a Yettel store for registration showing your ID document (such as passport).
Roaming is at domestic rates in the Western Balkans. If the user spends more than 60 days in any given 120 days and have more than 50% of usage outside the home network, but within Western Balkans zone, Yettel will notify the user via SMS and if the user doesn't return to home network in 14 days from receiving the message, the RSD 1.11 /MB charge will be implemented.
More info
- APN for smartphones: internet
- APN for tablets and modems: net
- Username: Yettel
- Password: gprs
- Website mostly in English: http://www.yettel.rs/en/consumer/
A1 Serbia
A1 Serbia
A1, owned by Telekom Austria, is the smallest provider in the country by customers. They were established in 2006. A1 offers 4G network at 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100MHz, 3G network at 2100 MHz and 2G network mainly at 900 MHz and with limited coverage on 1800 MHz. 2G/3G/4G coverage map
A1 is the smallest provider in the country with only a quarter of the nation's subscribers.
Availability
Their SIM cards are available in their stores and outlets: store locator at RSD 400 for prepaid SIM card. Your SIM card term of validity is 13 months, and every time you top-up your credit, it's extended for another 13 months. The topped up credit is valid for 3 months and minimum top-up is RSD 200.
'Data feature packs'
There is no data without a package or add-on. They offer three combo plans called Mesečni planovi: All of them are valid for 30 days.
- Mesečni plan 300: 1 GB, 10 GB for Facebook, Messenger, Viber and WhatsApp, 100 mins/SMS for RSD 300
- This plan can be added by a 100 mins/SMS and 1 GB for 199 RSD
- Mesečni plan 600: 3 GB, 10 GB for Facebook, Messenger, Viber and WhatsApp, 10 GB for Instagram, 200 mins/SMS RSD 600
- This plan can be added by a 200 mins/SMS and 3 GB for RSD 299
- A1 Moćni plan 900: 9 GB, 10 GB for Facebook, Messenger, Viber and WhatsApp, 10 GB for Instagram, 500 mins/SMS RSD 900
- This plan can be added by a 500 mins/SMS and 9 GB for RSD 399
When you purchase a new SIM card, you can activate the first "Mesečni plan 300" for free, to activate the plan call *123# and answer 1.
All plans auto-renew if you have enough credit for the activation. If you activate any of these plans before the previous has expired, both plans will be active simultaneously, but minutes/SMS and data from the plan that expires at an earlier date will be used first.
These data add-ons are offered:
| Data | Validity | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 MB | 1 day | RSD 89 | 500MB |
| 1 GB | RSD 129 | 1GB | |
| 3 GB | 7 days | RSD 289 | 3GB |
| 6 GB | RSD 429 | 6GB | |
| 12 GB | RSD 729 | 12GB |
For activation type *123# or send code to 12301. Packages don't renew. The number of activations of a package is not limited; the user can activate them as many times as they wish. An additional package can be reactivated even before the expiry of the currently active package. All unused content is then deleted. Note that these packages can't be purchased by A1 data-only SIM card users. If you activate these packages through the My A1 app, you get a discount of 10% on the price shown above.
They also offer special packages for social media:
- 5 GB for Instagram for 7 days: RSD 149
- 5 GB for Viber, WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger for 7 days: RSD 149
Data-only SIM
A1 sells their data-only SIM under the name Prepaid A1 internet paket (Hello Stranger) for RSD 400 including 20 GB of data valid for 3 days. For the minimal top-up with RSD 200 included data will be extended to 10 days after the first top-up. Bonus is valid only once.
With top-up, you'll receive bonus data:
- from RSD 200 to RSD 499 - 3 GB valid 7 days
- RSD 500 and more - 6 GB valid 15 days
You can buy additional data to offer valid 5 days:
- 3 GB for RSD 300
- 6 GB for RSD 500
Be aware when you have bought a new add-on, the activated add-on will be deleted.
Check remaining credit by texting '?' to 1230, data credit by typing *123# and choice 1. Max. speed is 3 Mbps on 3G network, no 4G/LTE access on this data SIM.
International roaming
The roaming packages were renewed in 2021. They are valid on selected networks in: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, Northern Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Turkey, UK, USA.
Roaming add-ons are purchased from top-up credit. After all data is used, for further surfing you need to activate new add-on. With TravelNet add-ons you can activate multiple add-ons at the same time. Unused data from add-ons are added on new activated add-on.
- 500 MB for 3 days: RSD 599
- 1 GB for 7 days: RSD 799
- 2 GB for 10 days: RSD 1199
- 3 GB for 15 days: RSDD 1399
- 10 GB for 30 days: RSD 3999
Activate through *123# or by MY A1 app.
There is also a Montenegro roaming add-on which includes 3 GB and 100 minutes for outgoing calls to all networks in Serbia and Montenegro for RSD 999 with a validity of 30 days. For activation text MNE to 123840.
More information
- APN, username and password: internet
- Website in English: http://a1.rs (change to English on top left)
Globaltel (by Telekom Srbija)
Globaltel is one the first MVNOs that started in 2016. It's locally based and provided by an IT company. It uses the network of A1 in 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE, but has so far only attracted a small 0.6% of the market.
On July 18, 2023, Globaltel officially became part of Telekom Srbije (mts), and continues to use the A1 infrastructure, at least for now, but the transition to the mts infrastructure is expected
In 2017 first prepaid SIM cards were launched and the offer is given in combination with their old Globaltel app available in the Play and App store which are only partly in English. Through this app low-cost calls to over 60 countries, free messaging and cheap roaming are offered. After the acquisition by Telecom Serbia, Globaltel announced that old app is being replaced with new "simple" app without VoIP , Virtual Numbers and free Television.
New app is available on Play and App store.
Availability
Their prepaid SIM cards can be purchased in Moj Kiosk or at any Post office without the need to show any ID. If you prefer, you can buy it also at Globaltel's office in Belgrade: Makenzijeva 24, 1st floor.
They are for RSD 299 and give RSD 50 credit, 5 GB of data and 50 min/SMS valid for 7 days.
Globaltel is currently the only mobile operator in Serbia selling eSIM card online, so you can be online as soon as you enter Serbia, without need to go anywhere to purchase an eSIM card. Note that you will need to download their internet profile in order for cellular data to work.
To top-up go to any Moj Kiosk and buy a recharge for RSD 100 to 12,000 or do it online by credit card for RSD 500, 1000 or 2000. You can also top up credit trough their Globaltel app. To enter the code type *100#.
Data feature packages
They offer these packages with unlimited minutes and SMS for 30 days called Freepaid:
- 2 GB + 1 GB roaming data for Zone 1: RSD 900
- 8 GB + 1 GB roaming data for Zone 1: RSD 1000
- 20 GB + 1 GB roaming data for Zone 1: RSD 1300
Zone 1 countries : Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Greece, Netherlands, Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Israel, South Africa, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Macedonia, Malta, Germany, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom
With less voice and text they offer these freely customizable plans:
| Time | Data | Voice/SMS | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 2 GB | 30 mins/SMS | RSD 200 |
| 80 mins/SMS | RSD 300 | ||
| 4 GB | 30 mins/SMS | RSD 300 | |
| 80 mins/SMS | RSD 400 | ||
| 30 days | 1 GB | 50 mins/SMS | RSD 300 |
| 150 mins/SMS | RSD 450 | ||
| 250 mins/SMS | RSD 700 | ||
| 4 GB | 50 mins/SMS | RSD 450 | |
| 150 mins/SMS | RSD 500 | ||
| 250 mins/SMS | RSD 900 | ||
| 10 GB | 50 mins/SMS | RSD 600 | |
| 150 mins/SMS | RSD 800 | ||
| 250 mins/SMS | RSD 1000 |
To both plans for extra data you can add:
- 1 GB for 7 days: RSD 100
- 3 GB for 7 days: RSD 200
- 5 GB for 30 days: RSD 300
If you activate new package before you have used up, and before the expiration date of previously activated package, new traffic will be added to the existing, and validity period will be extended for the duration of the new package.
When you have any of the packages above active on the SIM, calls to other Globaltel users are free. There is FUP for 4G data usage, so you can use up to 40 GB per month at full 4G speeds, after that, speed will be throttled to 128/32 Kbit/s.
More information
- APN: globaltel
- Website in Serbian: http://globaltel.rs