DebConf16/Sim-card-information

If you have any new information, please go ahead and improve this page!

Some tips

• The venue (University of Cape Town) will have good Internet, most attendees won't need a mobile data connection for the duration of their stay. If you're planning to stay on after DebConf or need connectivity while out and about, getting a local sim card would be a good idea.
• Sim cards in South Africa are dirt cheap. You can typically buy a sim card for any provider from a supermarket or other retail outlet for between R0.50 and R2.00 (that's typically between US$0.03 and US$0.25 based on exchange rate fluctuations, provider and store).
• RICA: In South Africa, you are required to register your sim card before you can use it. To do this, you need to provide your proof of address when purchasing your sim.

Table of providers and costs

There is a fairly complete comparison on Wikia. TL;DR: go for Vodacom with the B4IGO plan (for foreigners) if you accept to pay premium or a regular plan. In the latest case, it seems best to not go in a Vodacom shop at the airport. Instead, go upstairs to Woolworths store ("Shop No IDR, Domestic Departure Hall"). They sell the same plans without charging premium for the SIM card.

Cell C

• Website: http://www.cellc.co.za/
• Coverage map: http://www.cellc.co.za/network-coverage-map
• UCT Coverage: poor
• Frequencies: GSM: 1800MHz, 3G: 900MHz, 1800MHz, LTE: 1800MHz (chan 3), 2100MHz (chan 1)

Telkom

• Website: http://www.telkom.co.za/
• Coverage map: http://www.telkom.co.za/coverage/
• UCT Coverage: ?
• Frequencies: GSM: 1800MHz, 3G: 2100MHz, LTE: 2300MHz (chan 40)

MTN

• Website: http://www.mtn.co.za/
• Coverage map: https://www.mtn.co.za/pages/coverage-map.aspx
• UCT Coverage: ?
• Frequencies: GSM: 900MHz, 3G: 2100MHz, LTE: 1800MHz (chan 3)

Vodacom

• Website: http://www.vodacom.co.za/
• Coverage map: http://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/coverage-map
• UCT Coverage: good
• Frequencies: GSM: 900Mhz, 3G: 2100Mhz, LTE: 1800MHz (chan 3)

Roaming from Other Countries

Roaming from UK mobile networks

This is generally very expensive!

Three

Data £3 per MB. (South Africa is not a "feel at home" country so this is charged outside of inclusive allowance.) Calls £1.40/min, texts 35p.

http://www.three.co.uk/Support/Roaming_and_international/Mobile_Roaming?content_aid=1214306363715

EE

Data requires a Zone B roaming data add-on, £20/week (for 40MB/week), £40/week (for 100MB/week), or other options. Calls £1.50/min, texts 50p.

http://explore.ee.co.uk/roaming/ee/south-africa

O2

Data £6 per MB(!). Calls 80p/min, texts 40p

http://international.o2.co.uk/internationaltariffs/travelling_abroad

Vodafone

Website down at time of writing.

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/explore/costs/travelling-abroad/pay-as-you-go-travelling-abroad/index.htm

Roaming from US mobile networks

T-Mobile

Data: Free. (2G speeds, proxied via US) SMS: Free. Calls: 20c/min (USD).