Basics
Trinidad and Tobago has two mobile operators:
- bmobile (by TSTT)
- Digicel Trinidad & Tobago
A 3rd operator was proposed by the regulator in 2015, but hasn't started yet. While there are two providers, bmobile and Digicel, several were granted licenses but they did not build out due to the market competitiveness. Both providers hold around 50% of the market.
2G/GSM is on 850 and 1900 MHz, 3G HSPA is on 1900 MHz and still referred to as "4G" by local operators, but slowly phased out, because of LTE introduction.
At the end of 2016 new licences for 700, 850, 1700/2100 and 1900 MHz are expected to be released. 4G/LTE has been launched commercially in 2016 by bmobile on the 1900 MHz band and by Digicel in 2018 on 1900 MHz band.
When purchasing a SIM card, one may or may not need to show one's ID card.
bmobile (by TSTT)
bMobile is the mobile division of Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT). TSTT is a joint venture of Cable & Wireless and the Trinidad and Tobago Government with the Government holding a 51% majority stake.
They are the more established provider with the most customers, but their coverage is slightly less than that of their competitor Digicel. 4G/LTE has only started in 2016 on 1900 MHz (band 2). It will initially be rolled out to capital Port of Spain, San Fernando and Scarborough. If granted a 700 MHz spectrum, the telco hopes to achieve 85% population coverage within a couple of months. TSTT previously launched a data device-only TD-LTE 2600 MHz (band 38) network in 2014 called Blink, which it has expanded to over 400 locations, but requires a contract.
All rates given by bmobile are without taxes. So add 12.5% VAT (sales tax) for the final price. 4G/LTE is available for prepaid customers without surcharges.
Availability
SIM cards are available from the bmobile store at Piarco airport in the duty free area. They are also available at some malls such as Trincity Mall, Gulf City, West Mall and at TSTT offices in Port of Spain, San Fernando, Scarborough and other areas (store list).
Standard SIM, micro SIM and nano SIM are available. SIM cards are sold for
- TT$50 with TT$25 credit,
- TT$75 with the same credit,
- TT$100 with TT$150 credit,
- TT$200 with TT$300 credit
- TT$300 with TT$500 credit.
The included credit is valid for 30 days after activation.
To activate the SIM, insert the SIM into the phone and dial 800-3745. You will hear a message confirming the activation of the SIM and your airtime credit.
For top-ups, one can purchase top-up cards as e-card top-up TT$ 10-200 or scratch cards for TT$ 20, 50, 100 at local stores and shops. There is usually a sign outside. To load a top-up code, type *135#<voucher PIN>#. You can check the balance at anytime by dialling 120#.
Combo packages
Default rate outside of packages is TT$ 2 (TT$ 2.25 tax incl.) per MB.
In 2017 they discontinued all data feature packages and started to sell "unlimited" combo plans. They all contain "unlimited" data, local calls, local and internatl. SMS:
- for 1 day: TT$ 20 (TT$ 22.50 tax incl.)
- for 7 days: TT$ 99 (TT$ 111.37 tax incl.)
- for 30 days: TT$ 349 (TT$ 392.62 tax incl.)
A special Fair Use Policy applies to "unlimited" data: "On the rare occasion that a customer far exceeds the average use of 99% of our customers, bmobile may notify the customer that they are using excessive amounts of services, may prompt an investigation to ensure policy violations are not occurring, or have their access temporarily reduced or suspended until it ascertains whether the customer is using services properly."
For streaming the max. speed is throttled to 512 Kbps on these "unlimited plans".
Tourist SIM
Since December 1st, 2017 bmobile has offered a prepaid Tourist SIM to customers which provides mobile service to customers who are visiting Trinidad & Tobago for a short period of time. The Tourist SIM is available at the bmobile Duty Free store, bmobile Hilton, and other select authorized channel partners and hotels.The SIM card is activated by first call activation. You simply have to make a call to any mobile number to activate the SIM and the associated bundles.
The SIM comes in two denominations and the prices and what it includes are as follows:
- for 14 days: unlimited data, local calls and global texts plus 50 international mins (*): TT$ 210 (tax incl.)
- for 30 days: unlimited data, local calls and global texts plus 100 international mins (*): TT$ 350 (tax incl.)
(*): International minutes include calls to the US, UK, Canada, and Caribbean only.
You will receive a message 2 days before the bundle expires and another message upon expiration of the bundles. The SIM card itself will expire 7 days after the bundle does. You can extend the validity of the SIM card by purchasing a TT$ 50 top-up or any unlimited talk and data bundle.
Roaming offers
In all other FLOW/C&W networks in the Caribbean (Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Turks & Caicos) reduced rates apply on default: TT$ 2 (TT$ 2.25 tax incl.) per MB.
More info
- APN : bmobile
- Message Center/ SMS Delivery No.: +18686880011
- Website: http://www.bmobile.co.tt
Digicel Trinidad & Tobago
Digicel is the first and only competitor to bmobile. They tout themselves as "the bigger, better network" and have aggressively built out coverage, partly surpassing bmobile. They are very aggressive with marketing and promotions, but their rates remain similar to bmobile.
In July 2018 4G/LTE was launched on the 1900 MHz band (B2). It's so far available in north-west, east and central Trinidad, as well as east Tobago. Check out their coverage map. They expect to achieve a nationwide 4G footprint by November 2018.
Digicel's rates all exclude 12.5% VAT (sales tax). In 2014 they tried to block all VoIP use for their customers, but were told by the regulator to lift this ban again.
Availability
SIM cards are available from the Digicel kiosk at Piarco airport in the duty free area. They are also available at malls and stores throughout the country (store locator). Their SIM card comes with zero balance and priced at TT$ 50. Standard SIM, micro SIM and nano SIM are available. For their new 4G/LTE network, you need a 4G-enabled SIM card.
Top-ups can be made by e-vouchers TT$ 5-500 or top-up cards TT$ 20-500. To recharge type *121*<voucher PIN>#. To check balance type *120#. Top-ups can also be done via the Digicel top-up App on iOS and Android, online by credit card and at stores in the US.
Data feature packages
Default tariff outside of packages is TT$ 1.90 per MB. They offer LTE/HSPA+/EDGE so-called Quick Pick Plans that include data, calls and SMS. All data-only plans have been discontinued:
| Duration | Data | local Calls | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | 300 MB | 30 mins | TT$ 50 |
| 5 days | 500 MB | 50 mins | TT$ 60 |
| 10 days | 1 GB | 100 mins | TT$ 100 |
| 30 days | 1 GB | 100 mins | TT$ 200 |
| 30 days | 3 GB | 300 mins | TT$ 250 |
All rates already exclude taxes, free WhatsApp and unlimited on-net mins and SMS. Activation is by typing *323# and then choose the package. Free WhatsApp use is included but doesn't include VoIP calls. Check data balance by *120*4#.
If you auto-renew your package, unused data will roll over to the next period. Text 426 to 247 to start rolling over. All packages but the daily plans will auto-renew, if you have enough credit.
You can add 1 GB more data for just TT$ 50 within original package duration. You can find this option in Digicell app, they call it "Boost your Quick Pick Bundle".
Digicel also started to sell "unlimited pick bundles" which contain "unlimited" data, local calls, local and international SMS:
- for 1 day: TT$ 20
- for 7 days: TT$ 99
- for 30 days: TT$ 349
Digicel operates a fair usage policy (FUP). It is important to Digicel that all eligible Digicel customers are able to access our Services. Accordingly, we have devised a FUP which applies to all our Services. Digicel may rely on this fair usage policy where your usage of the Services is excessive or unreasonable as detailed in this paragraph. Digicel has developed a threshold for the Services and the related tariffs by reference to average customer profiles and estimated customer usage of the Services (particularly the estimated volume and length of calls likely to be made and data used by end users) (the “Threshold”). If, at the absolute discretion of Digicel, Digicel is of the opinion, that your usage of the Services materially exceeds the Threshold over any period (to be determined at Digicel’s sole discretion), Digicel reserves the right to charge you for the excessive element of your usage at your price plan's standard rate or to suspend, at its absolute discretion, modify or restrict your use of the Services or to withdraw your access to the Services entirely.
Roaming offers
Digicel offers two reduced roaming packages to be used on Digicel's Roaming Partners' networks as well as Digicel networks in "DigiRoam" territories: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Turks & Caicos. Standard roaming charge is TT$ 3.11 per MB.
- Caribbean Roaming Passport: TT$ 199 plus tax. It includes for 7 days, free incoming calls, free calls to Trinidad & Tobago, free SMS in the DigiRoam zone and unlimited data on these networks. Activation by *147#.
- One Rate Roaming Plan: TT$ 99 plus tax. It includes for 30 days, free incoming calls, TT$ 1 per min for outgoing calls, TT$ 1 per SMS and TT$ 1 per MB data roaming on these networks. Activation by *303#.
EZ Roam Plans
| Duration | Free Incoming Calls | Outgoing Calls | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Days | Yes | 10 minutes | 100MB | $100 |
| 7 Days | Yes | 20 minutes | 250MB | $200 |
| 14 Days | Yes | 40 minutes | 500MB | $300 |
| 30 Days | Yes | 60 minutes | 1024MB / 1GB | $400 |
Tourist SIM
For the carnival season they have issued a Tourist SIM card. For US$25 (TT$168.75) you get 3 GB data, 200 mins of calls (local calls, to US, Canada, UK landlines, Venezuela and Digi Caribbean, excluding Jamaica, Haiti and Guyana), unlimited on-net calls, SMS and WhatsApp use. This SIM is valid for 30 days and only available at the Piarco Airport in Trindad. You can renew after 30 days for TT$ 179.90.
More info
- APN : web.digiceltt.com or web
- Message Center/ SMS Delivery No.: +18683999008
- Website: http://www.digicelgroup.com/tt/en/mobile.html