Cellular Internet in the Philippines. Personal experience. Communications in the Philippines. Mobile Internet and calls What is the connection in the Philippines
So I need constant unlimited internet for a month, I have an iPad... how to do this
Let's start with how things are in theory. In the Philippines, the following existing cellular operators are used for communication and cellular Internet as of mid-2017.
- Globe
- Smart
Their prices for all services are comparable and the only question is how to use these services and the question of comparing packages. In most cases, tourists are interested in Internet packages, so we will study this.
Since 2015, unlimited cellular Internet does not exist in the country. I’ll write differently: in the Philippines, cellular operators do not provide unlimited cellular Internet.
Operators have packages that are conventionally called Unlimited or Surf all you want, but in practice these packages have a limit of 800 megabytes per day and let's call this the maximum daily traffic (according to my personal estimates 400), after using the maximum daily traffic, using the Internet is also possible but with very limited speed, really, WhatsApp messages are sent with a delay of a couple of minutes. Operators call this normal speed, while the daily traffic they report is delivered at forced speed.
In my personal experience, even this increased speed often does not allow me to access the VKontakte website, by the way, ru domains work much slower than com and ph domains work best of all, I think there is no need to explain why.
Against this background, different operators There are different packages suitable for different needs.
Option 1: connect to “unlimited” internet for the required period. The operators provide the following packages with conditional free internet in the Philippines.
With the Smart operator, the SURFMAX50 package for 1 day costs 50 pesos
SURFMAX250 for 7 days costs 250
SURFMAX500 for 15 days costs 500 pesos
Globe operator's SUPERSURF50 package for 1 day costs 50 pesos
SUPERSURF200 for 5 days costs 200 pesos
It is important that even when your 800 megabytes of conditionally unlimited internet run out, you will still remain in touch.
2. Option to connect a package with the total amount of Internet traffic for a certain period.
The Smart operator has a GIGASURF50 package for 3 days, you have 1 gigabyte of Internet 50 pesos
GIGASURF99 for 7 days 1.5 gigabytes costs 99 pesos
GIGASURF299 for 30 days 2 GB costs 299 pesos
The Globe operator has a POWERSURF50 package of 100 megabytes for 3 days costs 50 pesos
POWERSURF99 50 megabytes for 30 days costs 100 pesos
POWERSURF299 300 megabytes for 3 days costs 299 pesos
POWERSURF499 1 GB for 30 days costs 499 pesos
Where to connect to cellular communications in the Philippines or where to get a SIM card.
It's simple: SIM cards are distributed free of charge at airports. The question remains of choosing an operator. In order to get free SimCra you need to top up your account with at least 500 pesos. This is done right there at the airport.
ADVICE! When replenishing your account, ask the employee not to activate any packages and say that you will do it yourself, because employees usually activate packages for which there is no demand among Filipinos and it is necessary to sell all packages. Just in case, ask what packages are recommended for you; perhaps something better has appeared than what is listed here.
How to activate the Internet package yourself
Everything is simple here: the name of the required package without quotes, exactly as written above, is sent to cell number. SMART has this number 2200 for GLOBE 8080
Internet speed and coverage in the Philippines, which operator is better
In my experience of use, I did not notice that some operator is directly ahead of another in terms of speed and signal quality, both of them either do not work or there is no signal. The speed of both operators fluctuates and the Internet hangs for no reason, even regardless of the time of day. It often happens that one operator does not catch where another does. Therefore, my phone has two SIM cards and short packages are included, so that if I stay somewhere for a long time, I wouldn’t be upset because some package has been turned on for a whole week and I can’t use it because here where I don’t receive this operator.
How to deposit money into a mobile account in the Philippines
1. Method. In stores that sell cell phones or official kiosks from operators, Load Cards are sold; in the old fashioned way, we erase the security strip and enter the code as described on the card.
2. Method. Transfer from one number to another, what does this mean in practice. in any “Filipino-style market” where they sell beer or cola, ask Smart Load or Globe Load, say the amount and dictate or write the number. The seller of this “market” transfers the required amount from his number to yours, and takes a commission from 2 pesos to 10 pesos for the operation.
3. Method. Box office money transfers. Filipinos send money to each other from island to island, and these counters accept payments for tickets, bank transfers and cellular payments. All you need to know is your number and the magic phrase Globe load or Smart load
How to find out your Philippine number
It seems like there is a team ussd request and asking to know her number, but no one knows her. And the guys who sit in the operators’ offices are cheerful Filipinos and don’t know it first, they often don’t know what is written in this article and the article is literally collected bit by bit.
Your Philippine decree number is on the back of the plastic card where the SIM card was and its writing starts with 9, in order to call within the country you need to insert 0 or +63 before the 9, this is the international code of the Philippines
How to call my Philippine number from abroad
As stated above, the international code of the Philippines is +63 followed by 10 digits of the cell number
How to call from a Filipino number abroad to Russia
Try not to call; the IP telephony function is not enabled in the Philippines; a call to Russia will cost an average of 60 pesos per minute.
And finally interesting fact about the Philippines
The Philippines is the world leader in the number of SMS text messages. The fact is that cellular communications are quite expensive, 6-8 pesos per minute if voice packages are not included. Therefore, in order not to go broke talking, local residents correspond. The widespread use of SMS communications is also facilitated by the fact that the population still has a lot of old push-button phones messengers that do not support the Internet.
The following is information from a previous outdated article from 2015, then there were other tariffs and other conditions for their use. But even in 2017, the globe works and does not work on the iPad with incomprehensible inconsistency. But for smart on ipad it is not possible to enable the entire required range of tariffs because there is no way to make a ussd request due to the lack of telephone dialing on ipad. Packages are enabled through the functional applications of SIM cards.
So I need constant unlimited Internet for a month, I have an iPad, you yourself understand that I don’t have money for it special applications do not send an SMS with the choice of tariff, those who with an iPad are used to coming to the office of a cellular company and paying next month Internet will understand me. How are things going for owners of such equipment in the Philippines? The first opinion is extremely bad!! But first things first.
There are 3 leading ones in the Philippines mobile operators: globe, smart, sun.
Today I decided to check how globe works. To do this, I need a specialized service center so that I, as a white person, can be properly served and everything will be connected themselves.
First, the tariffs and what first catches your eye:
For conversations and Internet traffic, different SIM cards are used, or rather: standard SIM cards, intended primarily for conversations, are convenient and unlimited Internet packages are not connected and traffic from them will be paid for on average 15 minutes - 5 pesos, but the speeds are snail's .
The SIM card itself costs 40 pesos, they will also offer to buy a pocket Wi-Fi module 1400, a convenient little thing.
Supersurf50 50 pesos Unlimited for 1 day
Supersurf120 120 pesos Unlimited for 3 days
Superfurf200 200 pesos Unlimited us5 days
Supersurf999 999 pesos Unlimited 1 month
To enable the tariff, you need to top up your account and send an SMS with the name of the tariff from your number to 8888.
Phone bill in the Philippines is topped up in the following ways: 1 this is a transfer from SIM card to SIM card, so any store has a service for topping up your account with its own commission, 2 purchasing payment cards with a security stripe. Here it is.. Yes! Even in service center They can’t just accept my money through the system and turn on the service. Therefore, the girl politely opened my SIM card, asked for my phone, to which I showed the iPad, reminded that if she wants to send an SMS or top up her account via ussd, then such a trick will not work with this device, so the girl inserted the SIM card into mine personal phone, topped up the account by erasing the security strip on the payment cards, and sent an SMS. After 3-5 minutes she happily informed me that the Internet package was activated.
It's time to check how the Internet works, I insert a brand new card into the ipad, it shows cellular signal, but there is no Internet traffic, and this despite the fact that I am in the city. It turned out that I should activate Personal Area via the Internet, which does not exist yet, the ipad issued an offer to activate your personal account right now in a window that opens, the window opened with an offer to wait a few seconds, 30 minutes passed, the window continued to promise a few seconds... That’s how I was left without the Internet, I’m sailing to Bohol, nothing in advance without reading it.
A cell phone employee was found on the island, the girl put a SIM card in her Samsung phone, her Internet started working, and on her iPad she still asks to create some kind of account... I'm tired of it, I'll try the next operator.
Across the street in Tagbilaran, a normal 4-story supermarket with offices of cellular companies was discovered. Now it’s time to experiment with Smart. Again, different SIM cards, for calls the SmartPrepaid card for SmartBro Internet packages, both cost 50 pesos.
Internet tariffs
LTE 50 50 pesos 1 day unlimited internet
LTE 299,299 pesos 7 days unlimited internet
LTE 995,995 pesos 30 days unlimited internet
So I bought a Smart SIM card, they topped up my account in the store, sent me an SMS with the selected package, now I’m in the town of Anda, in Bohol, the Internet works on the ipad. The speeds are snail's pace, but accepting mail, writing on social networks is no problem)) By the way, replenishment, if you buy payment cards, keep in mind that they are also different, just like SIM cards. SmartBron SIM cards require appropriate payment cards. And by the way, on these payment cards there is some kind of nonsense written about the method of replenishment... so a simple way to top up your account using a card: behind the security strip there are 14 digits, on the phone you dial the number 1510 and without spaces immediately 14 digits of the code, it turns out to be a 20-digit number, and press the call button.
The article will continue as information becomes available.
P.S. I will be glad if you are interested in my VKontakte group,
Local " big three” are telecommunication companies Globe, Sun and SMART. The first operator is considered the most reliable and high-quality - it really has the maximum coverage area and the highest best quality communications. Others are a little worse, but in most cases it's not noticeable. Problems can only begin when you move away from densely populated areas.
However, do not forget that the Philippines is an island state: in one part of the archipelago Globe has better reception, and, for example, on the island of Cebu - one of the popular tourist resorts - better communication at SMART. However, Globe, as a leader, still has better overall quality.
Where is the best place to buy a SIM card?
In the cities of the country there are a huge number of small shops selling not only SIM cards, but also souvenirs, so you can combine business with pleasure. Mobile packages are also available in the assortment of local supermarkets and shopping centers - in a word, wherever there is heavy human traffic.
When purchasing, you do not need a passport; all prepaid tariffs can be activated anonymously. Sellers are unlikely to be able to help with setting up options, but it’s quite possible to figure it out on your own.
If you don’t want to waste time, go to a cell phone store - they do everything here quite quickly. It wouldn’t hurt to think about connecting immediately after arrival: there are SIM card vending machines at airports, and employees of cellular companies are always on duty at branded counters nearby.
The cost of SIM cards varies depending on the operator, and quite significantly. For example, SMART will cost 40 pesos, but Globe will cost 100: it’s all about the Internet packages included in the basic tariffs. If you plan to actively use the Internet on vacation, Globe is definitely your choice.
Cellular tariffs for tourists
Operators' rates for calls abroad do not differ much. On average, the cost of connecting to Russia will cost you $0.4 per minute (23 rubles), and here a SIM card from Globe will come in handy: only this operator allows you to receive a signal on many interesting excursions, so you can share your impressions directly from the scene of events. For example, in Sabang, where tourists come to see the amazing underground river.
How to call the Philippines from Russia
To dial successfully, you need to enter the prefix 63 before the phone number, but first dial the switching codes for long-distance and international lines.
To mobile phone
Area codes are only needed when calling landlines. From your cell phone, simply dial the country code:
- +63-ХХХ-ХХХ-ХХ-ХХ.
To a landline phone
We have given several codes for the cities most visited by tourists below. The procedure for dialing a telephone number is as follows:
- press “8”, wait for the beep;
- to access an international line, dial 10;
- now dial prefix 63;
- All you have to do is dial the area code and the phone number itself.
City codes:
- Manila - 2;
- Dagupan - 75;
- Lucena - 42;
- Cebu - 32.
How to call Russia from the Philippines
To contact by landline phone, dial the international code of our country - 7, but first switch to international communications after 00. If you are calling on a cell phone, dial the number in +7 format.
In this post I want to talk mainly about mobile communications and mobile Internet in the Philippines, plus I’ll tell you a little about accessibility Wifi networks and running a dedicated line into the house.
Since the Philippines is a country located on more than seven thousand islands, mobile communications here are the most developed, coverage is dense and mobile Internet is quite accessible.
Judge for yourself: according to statistics, every third Filipino has access to the Internet, and every fourth has a Facebook account. True, the majority of Filipinos are not very computer savvy, since most of the traffic in the country goes through browsers mobile devices, and not many people have computers.
Mobile communications in the Philippines
1
Not in the Philippines national roaming, any SIM card is valid anywhere in the country, and the tariffs are the same.
Cell phones here are very cheap - mostly locals buy Chinese copies of old Nokia models like 3310. The cost of such a device here starts from 200 pesos per new(about $5). Real Nokias and Samsungs here start at $18, which is also not much.
The cost of sim cards is from 20 cents to a couple of dollars apiece, they are as easy to find as cigarettes - they are sold in almost any store or stall. No registration of the SIM card is required - insert it, put money in it and you can use it.
Thus, in order to “get in touch” “from scratch”, you only need to have 6-7 dollars and half an hour of time to choose a handset.
You can top up your balance, again, at every kiosk and store, as well as using scratch cards. There is no commission for replenishing your account, that is, no matter how much money you give, exactly the same amount will come to your account. Very often, when you top up your balance with large amounts such as 100 pesos, you will also be given bonus free SMS.
The most popular providers in the Philippines are Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, And Sun Cellular.
They have some differences, which I will write about below, but first I will list the general points.
All three operate in the GSM range, that is CDMA phones and modems with EVDO will not work here.
The cost of calls from these operators ranges from 6 to 8 pesos per minute, but SMS messages are most often either completely free or cost one peso for 160 characters. This difference in price between a call and a message has led to the fact that Filipinos very rarely call each other, preferring to communicate via SMS.
If your phone does not support 3G, then you can buy a 3G modem, but it is better to do this before arriving in the country, because such devices are very difficult to find in the Philippines and they are quite expensive here.
Fortunately, each of the providers will provide you with such a modem for 995 pesos, but it will be “locked” to work only with this operator. Some of them can be unlocked for 150 pesos from those who do repairs cell phones, but not all modem models can be hacked.
With a price tag of P995, you might consider buying two modems from different providers instead of looking for a generic or unlocked modem.
All three providers provide Internet access (GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA/HSDPA) right out of the box without the need to configure anything or change tariffs. Such access will cost you 10 pesos for every half hour and the traffic is unlimited. If you want to save money, you can buy an Internet “package” for one day, for 5-7 days and rarely for a month. Below I will tell you more about the difference between these offers, but they have one thing in common: as soon as the paid Internet expires, you will be charged the standard 10 pesos for every half hour without any warning or notification. If you bought such a package 5 days ago, then you are unlikely to be able to remember the exact time it was connected - sometimes it’s even difficult to remember the date :) Therefore Be sure to write down the date and time of connection, or better yet, set your alarm clock immediately so as not to miss the expiration date of the offer.
At first it may seem that paying for the Internet every 5 days is inconvenient, but in fact, when traveling around the Philippines, such tariffs are more profitable than monthly ones, because in each new city some operator works better, some worse and connecting Internet in advance for a month, you can be left with no luck and never have the opportunity to use it.
Next I will tell you a little more about each provider, but my advice to you is that you don’t need to choose between them - just buy all three SIM cards and carry them with you. You will spend only 3-5 dollars, but when traveling around the country with two or three SIM cards from different providers, you will most likely be able to go online in any locality.
Smart Communications
2
In our opinion, this provider has the widest coverage, so we use it for calls and SMS. Quite often there were situations when Smart caught where Globe was not stable, but they do not have restrictions on 3G traffic, as a result of which the quality of the Internet in their regions is poor (apparently due to torrents). But in the capital, Smart consistently gave me a speed of 7 Mbit per second, that is, I could freely pump out about one and a half gigabytes per hour.
Smart's Internet is connected by default, that is, all you need to access the network is open a browser. Settings for phones can be requested by sending an SMS message with the text SET to 211. You will be sent settings for your phone, which you need to save. If you are asked for a PIN code during the process, enter 1234.
If your phone is not supported by your provider, or you are using your own USB modem, then you can enter the settings manually:
3G Internet settings for prepaid SIM cards Smart Buddy:
- Number: *99#
- APN: internet
- Check the box next to "PAP", if available (usually in the "Advanced" tab)
If you access the network from your phone, then usually everything works without any problems with the settings.
The cost of such a connection is 10 pesos per half hour without traffic restrictions (from 2 am to 6 am - 20 pesos for two hours). This is quite expensive, so you should immediately connect to one of the “packages” of Internet services. I will give here information only about unlimited ones.
You can also connect to any of these packages without SMS by going to http://m.smart.com.ph/surf and following the instructions (this page is only available when you go online using a Smart SIM card). On the same site you can see the status of your connection, in case you forgot the date and time of activation of the service.
SMS from Smart cost one peso regardless of the operator. MMS within the network is also 1 peso, for other operators - 2 pesos. Calls within the network cost 6.50 per minute, to phones from other networks - 7.50.
Globe Telecom
3
Official website: http://globe.com.ph/
This company as a whole looks more modern and civilized than Smart, but we have already encountered more than once that Globe does not catch or catches poorly where Smart works flawlessly. Even now we have this situation in our house - Globe only works if you leave the house.
But Globe has relatively stable internet, even if he catches poorly. We most often use their SIM card for the Internet when traveling.
Globe APN Settings:
- Number: *99***1#
- APN: http.globe.com.ph
- All other fields can be left untouched
Again, you can use the Internet immediately, without any manipulation, at a price of 5 pesos for 15 minutes (that is, the same 10 pesos for half an hour). If you want to get cheaper access, you can connect to the SuperSurf service:
| Package name | Price | Activation via SMS |
|---|---|---|
| SUPERSURF50 | 50 pesos per night | Text "SUPERSURF50" to number 8888 |
| SUPERSURF220 | 220 pesos for 5 days | Text "SUPERSURF220" to number 8888 |
| SUPERSURF999 | 999 pesos for 30 days | Text "SUPERSURF999" to number 8888 |
To check the status of your connection, send the text “SUPERSURF STATUS” to the number 8888, you will receive an SMS in response with the date and time of activation of the service.
This offer is supposedly unlimited, but if you look hard enough, you can always find a small asterisk with a link to their Fair Use Policy. In short, it says that per day you cannot spend more than 800 megabytes(as far as I understand, a total of Up+Down). This is not enough, but with such a limitation it is impossible to fully download torrents, which has a good effect on the quality of the Internet. If you reach your 800 megabyte limit and desperately need to go online, send an SMS with the text “SUPERSURF OFF” and you can continue to enjoy truly unlimited internet at the standard price of 5 pesos per 15 minutes.
Sun Cellular
4
Official website: http://www.suncellular.com.ph/
As far as I understand, this is a relatively young company that is gaining momentum, although I could be wrong. Unfortunately, we have never used their services, so we cannot judge the quality of the services provided. I can only say that their offices and SIM cards are a little more difficult to find than Globe or Smart.
The APN settings for Sun Cellular modems and phones are as follows:
- APN: internet
- All other fields can be left untouched
The standard cost of Internet is 10 pesos per half hour, like other operators.
Unlimited tariffs:
WiFi in the Philippines
WiFi networks are very common here. Almost all providers of both mobile and wired internet will offer you WiFi router for a small surcharge. Hence there are a lot of networks, but most often they are password-protected, although there are exceptions. Free WiFi can be found in many fast food cafes and restaurants, very often in guesthouses, in large malls and food courts.
Wired Internet
If you decide to settle down, then of course it’s worth considering connecting to a leased line - it’s stable, fast, there are no restrictions, although sometimes the price is not very profitable, especially in large cities with developed 3G.
The largest ADSL Internet provider (the one over the telephone wire) in the Philippines is the already familiar Globe. There is also PLDT, but it is most developed in the capital and large cities, and is just beginning to expand into the regions.
In addition to these providers, there are a lot of local ones that provide coaxial cable or twisted pair, such as Moscow Corbina and Akado.
All prices are approximately the same - 900-1000 pesos per month for the basic tariff. The speed on this tariff varies depending on where you live: in Manila it can be 3 Mbit per second, but in our town it’s 1 Mbit. We currently use Globe for 2000 per month and get stable 3 - 3.5 Mbits for it. This is the maximum available speed in our city, but in Manila, I heard you can connect up to 15 megabits.
Unfortunately, connecting an ADSL line can only be done in the postpaid format, that is, you first use it and then pay the bill. Therefore, to connect, you need a lot of documents confirming your address and solvency. Frightened by this list, we still decided to take a chance and apply. As a result, they didn’t even look at the passport; perhaps they don’t consider the possibility that foreigners are also sometimes insolvent. In general, for some reason they simply turned a blind eye to our documents (but it’s not a fact that you will be as lucky). Connecting your home to telephone line and internet cost 500 pesos. The craftsmen arrived about a week after the application and did everything in an hour. The next day, other employees arrived, photographed the work of the craftsmen and took signatures from us that everything was ok, for quality control.
When you connect to a leased line, you enter into a contract for a year, and if you want to stop it earlier than a year or change your place of residence, you will have to pay a 2,000 pesos fine. Although, sometimes you can negotiate with managers, especially if you connect to a local provider.
That's all we know on this moment) If you have any additions, we will be glad to see them in the comments.
This is not the first time people have asked us how things are with communications in the Philippines, which operator should be chosen, what about the Internet speed and much more. In this article we will answer all the questions in order.
In the Philippines, mobile communications are developing very actively, since most of the population cannot afford a computer and use mobile phone as the main means of communication. Filipinos are very fond of sending SMS to each other, which can be seen if you look closely at the vast majority of tariffs from local operators, and also sit on Facebook - this is the most popular social network in this country, which is visited every day by at least a third of the population.
List of Philippine cellular operators (by clicking on the operator you can go to its official website): Smart, Talk ‘N Text, Red Mobile, Sun Cellular, Globe, Touch Mobile. All operators work in GSM standard. At a minimum, Smart and Globe support 4G, but mainly in large cities. Regarding subsidiaries (Smart is owned by Red Mobile, Talk N' Text and shares the same owner with Sun Cellular; Globe is owned by Touch Mobile, also known as TM) needs to be clarified. We used Smart and Globe in Palawan, both operators support 3G almost everywhere.
GLOBE
It was Globe that we decided to connect unlimited Internet for a month, since it is slightly cheaper than Smart, and the coverage area in Palawan is quite decent.
Post-payment for travelers is unlikely to be convenient
| Price | Limit | Validity | How to connect |
| 15 pesos | 20MB | 1 day | Send text POWERSURF15 to 8888 |
| 30 pesos | 50MB | 1 day | Send text POWERSURF30 to 8888 |
| 50 pesos | 100MB | 3 days | Send text POWERSURF50 to 8888 |
| 99 pesos | 50MB | 30 days | Send text POWERSURF99 to 8888 |
| 299 pesos | 300MB | 30 days | Send text POWERSURF299 to 8888 |
| 499 pesos | 1GB | 30 days | Send text POWERSURF499 to 8888 |
Please note that although it is not stated anywhere, Globe has a speed limit - for example, if you decide to listen to music online or download torrents, there is a high chance that you will be blocked (ostensibly so that other users do not suffer).
And one more note about Globe - if you plan to distribute the Internet, then keep in mind that this function is not available on the iPad: an error is displayed and you are asked to contact the operator. If anyone knows what's going on here, please write in the comments.
SMART
We chose Smart as a backup operator if the Internet from Globe falls off somewhere during the time. But this did not happen - both operators worked approximately the same.
Tariffs for mobile Internet (prepaid)
Information on available Smart Internet packages can be viewed. Without connecting additional options, you can use standard Internet at a price of 5 pesos/15 minutes.
Unlimited packages
Limit packages
| Plastic bag | Price | Limit | Validity | How to connect |
| ON 20 | Php 20 | 45 MB | 1 day | Send text ON 20 to 2200 |
| ON 30 | Php 30 | 70 MB | 1 day | Send text ON 30 to 2200 |
| ON 99 | Php 99 | 50 MB | 30 days | Send text ON 99 to 2200 |
| ON 199 | Php 199 | 180 MB | 15 days | Send text ON 199 to number 2200 |
| ON 299 | Php 299 | 300 MB | 30 days | Send text ON 299 to number 2200 |
| ON 499 | Php 499 | 1000 MB | 30 days | Send text ON 499 to number 2200 |
| ON 995 | Php 995 | 2000 MB | 30 days | Send text ON 995 to number 2200 |
How to check your balance on Smart
- Send text “?1515″ to short number 214. An SMS message will be sent in response
- Go to SMART MENU>Buddy Balance on your phone
How to set up Internet on Smart
Everything works by default. To receive settings for your phone, send text message SET to number 211.
If you decide to use the regular phone functions, a call within the network will cost 6.50 pesos, to other networks 7.50 pesos. SMS to all operators 1 peso.
To find out your number, the easiest way is to send someone an SMS message. Or send ASK SMART to number 143. You will receive a message in response with your Philippine number.
SUN CELLULAR
We haven’t used it ourselves, but they say that Sun is much inferior to Smart. SIM cards of this operator are mainly used for SMS communication. I didn’t see them for sale during the entire trip (but I didn’t look for them either). When I wrote the article, their website was down, so there is no more accurate information.
How to Check Your Sun Cellular Balance
- Execute command *221#
- Call 221
RED MOBILE
Judging by the website, this operator offers packages of cheap calls and SMS. By the way, in 2012 there were rumors about the closure of the company. But for now it works.
How to check your balance on Red Mobile
- Send text 999 to number 9939
TALK'N' TEXT
As the self-explanatory name suggests, the operator provides cheap calls and SMS messages.
How to check your balance on Talk’N’Text
- Go to phone TALK N TEXT MENU>Balance Inquiry
- Send the text “?15001” to number 214.
TOUCH MOBILE
This operator positions itself as a youth site, so the site looks more cool than useful. It is also in the local Tagalog language. Although everything is quite clear.
Tariffs for mobile Internet (prepaid)
Unlimited packages
How to check your balance on TM (Touch Mobile)
- Execute command *102#
- Call 802
Wireless Internet Wi-fi and WiMax in the Philippines
We encountered this beast quite often, but in large cities it worked poorly. Most best wifi in Palawan was in, as well as in the city of Tay-Tay, the former capital of Palawan.
I was in many hotels and cafes, but worked well only at the Deep Forest Hotel. In El Nido, the Internet was available in our guesthouse and in the most popular place - the Art Cafe. However, we never found it working there.
And at the Casa-Rosa hotel in the city we saw WiMax for the first time - great option for those who decide to live in the Philippines. The main difference between WiMax and Wi-fi is that the former allows you to transmit data over a radio channel (like mobile communications) in urban environments, despite buildings, trees or weather conditions. Zone Wi-fi actions is limited to a couple of tens of meters, and WiMax – up to 50 km. If you decide to connect yourself to one in the Philippines, information about tariffs can be found here: http://tattoo.globe.com.ph/wimax.html Internet speed is slightly higher than through 3G, but the Internet is more stable.
Wired Internet in the Philippines
Wired Internet access in the Philippines is provided by two companies - Globe (http://tattoo.globe.com.ph/products) and PLDT (http://pldthome.com/shop). Follow the links to view rates and offers. Regular price: 999 pesos. For this money, depending on the region, you will get from 512 Kbps to 3 Mbps. To connect, you need to contact the company office.
If you have any questions or suggestions, we welcome your comments!
It may seem that problems with mobile communications and Internet access are the last thing that should worry a tourist abroad, but this is not so. On the one hand, if necessary, you can send an SMS message from almost anywhere and almost all large hotels have an Internet cafe, the free use of which is often included in the service package; on the other hand, a situation may arise that requires lengthy telephone conversations, sending urgent emails or immediately go to Skype. The issue of high-quality and inexpensive communication is especially relevant for those who stay abroad for a long time. Let's see how things are with roaming and the Internet in the Philippines.
general information
Mobile service in the Philippines is different good level signal reception throughout the country. International country code – 63 . Telephone emergency assistance(police, fire, emergency medical services) in Manila - 117 , in other cities – 166 . The tourist police can be contacted at 116 .
It is preferable to purchase SIM cards from large companies that guarantee the best communication quality and maximum coverage area.
Payphones in big cities are found at every step, and almost all of them have access to foreign countries and intercity lines.
Guests of luxury hotels can take advantage of wireless internet(Wi-Fi), but even in small Philippine hotels, Wi-Fi is not uncommon, because free access to the Internet attracts customers from other countries, more than paying off the hotel owner’s expenses.
mobile connection
Like many other countries, roaming in the Philippines is not cheap. Besides, telephone conversations abroad are not amenable to planning - even tourists, who do not deviate a millimeter from the planned schedule, discover large overpayments. As a result, many tourists are forced to ask friends or relatives to put additional amounts on their phones long before the end of their vacation.
It is much more profitable to use a local SIM card. Buy You can get it at the airport (this is more expensive) or in specialized stores and communication shops. However, finding such a salon in a small town may be difficult (if not impossible). In addition, most phone shops are closed on weekends and holidays. It is also recommended to compare the proposed tariffs and understand the instructions for activating the SIM card on the spot - it is better to seek help from the operator or seller than to waste precious time understanding the instructions.
An international passport is required when purchasing a Philippine SIM card. The cost of a conversation with Russia ranges from 40-47 pesos per minute (that is, from 90 cents to a little over a dollar). Buying a card with a zero balance is 60-70 pesos , with replenished – from 100 before 600 pesos (depending on the paid time limit). In the Philippines, there is a uniform tariff for all mobile phone companies on sending SMS – one peso .
Among the main cellular operators in the Philippines are ExpressTelecom, Smart Communications, Connectivity Unlimited Resource Enterprise Inc., Globe Telecom (the list is far from complete), but fans of frequent telephone conversations It’s better to use the card of the last listed company (Globe Telecom), which allows you to reach a subscriber in Russia from anywhere in the Philippines. Simultaneous purchase of a special Internet package can significantly reduce your roaming tariff.
Travelers who are not attracted to the idea of purchasing a Philippine SIM card can use SIMafor or Simtravel travel SIM cards. In this case, you will not only save money, but also be able to use your mobile phone at the Philippine airport.
Mobile Internet and Wi-Fi
Internet roaming tariffs offered by Russian companies vary greatly - from 30 rubles behind 1 MB (Beeline) to 200 (MTS) and even 250-260 rubles (Megaphone). We are talking only about initial prices; final tariffs are most often much higher. However, you can find better deals. For example, buying a SIM card for 1200 rubles SIMafor , you will pay for 1 MB in total 7 rubles .
You can, of course, activate the mobile Internet using the services of Philippine operators. To do this, you will need to purchase a card from one of the local companies. Average price of a SIM card for the Internet – 40-60 pesos (32-48 rubles ), but it can also be more expensive (for example, a card Globe costs about 100 pesos ); 30 minutes of traffic – approx. 10 pesos . Experienced travelers recommend buying SIM cards from two or three of the best Philippine providers (such as Globe Telecom or Smart Communications) and forget about connection problems for the entire vacation.
In Manila and other major cities of the country there are quite a lot Internet cafe – the cost of an hour spent on the Internet usually does not exceed here 16 rubles (great price, I agree). Almost all hotels have desktop computers, in many of them, as already mentioned, you can get Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is also available in restaurants, bars, shopping and medical complexes, and often on resort beaches.
Wired Internet
The best solution for those who plan to stay in the country for a long time is to connect to a wired Internet. Prices here are higher than in 3G (mobile Internet), but almost the same (about 1000 pesos - just under 800 rubles - for a basic tariff) from different providers and relatively stable. Connecting a telephone and the Internet costs 400-450 rubles, but this is a one-time promotion.
Interestingly, the connection ADSL carried out only within the framework of the postpaid payment system, in which the client pays for services already provided to him within the agreed period. Therefore, it is advisable to have documents confirming your solvency.
The largest wired Internet provider in the Philippines is the already familiar Globe Telecom , in Manila and big cities, its competition is PLDT.
We hope that after this article it will be easier for you to navigate issues related to mobile communications and the Internet
