Basics
Operators and frequencies
Uruguay has 3 mobile operators:
- Antel (state owned)
- Movistar (by Telefónica)
- Claro (by América Móvil)
Coverage and speed are pretty good for Latin American standards. But frequencies are very diverse. While Antel has 2G and 3G on "European bands", Movistar and Claro use "American frequencies":
Operator | 2G (GPRS, EDGE) | 3G (UMTS, HSPA+) | 4G (LTE) |
---|---|---|---|
Antel | 1800 MHz | 850, 2100 MHz | 1700 MHz |
Movistar | 850, 1900 MHz | 850, 1900 MHz | 1900 MHz |
Claro | 1900 MHz | 1900 MHz | 1700 MHz |
Legal Requirements
You can now use your own device together with a Uruguayan SIM card registering at a kiosk or store when you buy the card. Previously, the device was required to be declared at customs. This is no longer obligatory. For purchasing a Uruguayan SIM card in a shop, you must still show your passport (in original as copies are not accepted) and fomerly had to give a local address, which is also not mandatory anymore.
Antel
Antel stands for Administración Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, the state owned, national provider of telecommunication. It has a monopoly for landlines, but on mobile networks, it competes with Movistar and Claro. Still, it is the market leader with 53% of all cellular customers and the best network in the country. Antel 2G/3G/4G Coverage Map. 3G covers about 90%. 4G/LTE started in 2011 is available for prepaid without surcharge but limited to the city centers.
Availability
Their prepaid SIM card is called Chip Prepago and available for $ 48 without credit in their shops and sales outlets: Antel Shop Locator Recharges can be made there and everywhere, where you spot the Antel logo for $ 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 300 or 500 extending SIM life for 5 to 120 days according to top up amount. The SIM card activation can take up to several hours, after that you can buy credit and activate bundle.
Data feature packs
There is no internet without bundles. So after activation you must reload and choose one of these data bundles:
- daily bundle: 24 hours from activation, speeds up to 20 Mbps
- 3 GB: $ 30 - activation: text "dia 30" to 226
- 10 GB: $ 80 - activation: text "dia 80" ro 226
- other bundles:
For activation text code to 226. To check data balance text SALDO to 226.
More Info
- APN (for prepaid only): prepago.ancel
- Username and password: BAM
- More info: Website in Spanish
Movistar
Movistar by Spanish Telefónica is the second provider in the country with a 34% share. Still it has good coverage on "American" frequencies (see above): Movistar 2G/3G Coverage Map 3G coverage is about 50%. 4G/LTE has just started in Montevideo: Movistar 4G/LTE Coverage Area and is given out for free when you have a 4G SIM card.
Availability
Their prepaid SIM card is called Movistar Prepago and available in their shops and sales outlets: Movistar Shop Locator Recharges can be made there and everywhere, where you spot the Movistar logo. You can send a free SMS to 944 with the word DONDE and they text you the nearest locations. Top-ups are $ 120-500 giving 30-90 days of credit. The following starter packs are offered:
- Chip prepago Amigos: with discounted rates to certain Movistar numbers, no data included, start-up price $ 40, minimum top-up: $ 100 in 30 days
- Chip prepago TOTAL: with included voice, text and data, start-up price: $ 40
- S: 200 MB, 200 mins/SMS to Movistar, 5 mins/SMS to others, minimum top-up: $ 75 for 7 days
- M: 450 MB, 450 mins/SMS to Movistar, 10 mins/SMs to others, minimum top-up: $ 145 for 15 days
- L: 1 GB, 1000 mins/SMS to Movistar, 15 mins/SMS to others, minimum top-up: $ 295 for 30 days
- Chip prepago XD: for free, top-ups need to be done online by credit card
- 250 MB, 25 domestic mins, minimum top-up: $ 69 for 7 days
- 1 GB, 100 domestic mins, mimimum top-up: $ 229 for 30 days
To activate, type *123#, to change tariff lines call *333.
Data feature packs
Default rate for all lines is the Internet by day rate: 20 MB per day for $ 9.90 up to 23:59 hrs. For more data, you should choose a combined package called Paquete Prepago:
Data | Voice, SMS | Time | Price | Activation |
---|---|---|---|---|
250 MB | 250 | 5 days | 45 $ | Promo 45 |
350 MB | 350 | 7 days | 79 $ | Promo 79 |
500 MB | 500 | 15 days | 99 $ | Promo 99 |
1 GB | 1000 | 30 days | 199 $ | Promo 199 |
To subscribe, text code to 888. Voice includes only minutes to Movistar. The packages are recurrent. To stop, text BAJA and the activation code to 888. To check balance, text SALDO to 222.
More Info
- APN: webapn.movistar.com.uy
- Username and password: movistar
- Website: in Spanish
Claro
Claro by Mexican América Móvil is the smallest network in the country on "American" frequencies (see above) and a 13% market share. 4G has started in 2014 but is not yet advertised. So make a network scan before you buy a SIM card. If you have coverage, they offer the cheapest rates for data right now.
Availability
The prepaid SIM card called Chip Claro Tajetero is sold for 40 $ with lots of bonuses and freebies in kiosks and their shops. Claro Shop Locator . Top-ups can be made there from $ 20-300 valid for 3-21 days respectively.
Data rate
Internet is by default on the daily rate: 50 MB per calendar day (until 11.59 pm) for $ 15. Then you are throttled to 128 kbps or you can reset for another 50 MB and $ 15 by texting the word TURBO to 252. No other data packages are offered.
More Info
- APN: internet
- Username: ctiweb
- Password ctiweb999
- Website: in Spanish