Tuvalu Telecom is the only place you can get a SIM card in Tuvalu
How to get a SIM card in Tuvalu
Getting a SIM card in Tuvalu is relatively straightforward. There’s only one cell provider in the country, Tuvalu Telecom, and their office is close to the airport.
Where to get a SIM card in Tuvalu
The Tuvalu Telecom store is conveniently located close to the airport; take a right as you leave the terminal and the Telecom building is facing the end of the street. It’s visible from the airport doors and can be reached on foot in less than a minute.
Don’t be put off by the closed curtains and derelict look of the building; just try the door. We presume they keep the curtains closed to keep the heat out.
Tuvalu Telecom is located right next to the airport
What you need to get a SIM card in Tuvalu
You need a passport and cash in Australian dollars to get a SIM card in Tuvalu. There are no ATMs in Tuvalu, so you’ll need to bring all your cash with you.
The attendants are helpful and will pre-load the money for you and purchase the plan. All you have to do is tell the attendant how much data you want, and you’re good to go!
Queuing to get a SIM card in Tuvalu
Pricing of a SIM Card in Tuvalu
Data in Tuvalu is inexpensive compared to other Pacific Island nations. We arrived from the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu was more affordable. However, compared to Australia, it is more expensive.
We stayed in Tuvalu for a week and purchased the 3.5GB plan for 14 days, which cost us AUD $10. However, we use a lot of data and really need about 5GB. So we topped up again and did another 3.5GB to get us through the rest of the week.
Telecom data plans in Tuvalu
Speed of connectivity in Tuvalu
Connectivity in Tuvalu is average to good, never excellent. We found that the thickness of our hotel’s walls made a material difference to data speed.
However, we were hostspotting multiple devices and still managed to do everything we wanted with just one SIM card.
On the more remote Funafala Islet, we got two LTE bars on the coast.
Final thought on getting a SIM card in Tuvalu
We had heard that the price and speed of a SIM card in Tuvalu were less than optimal; however, we were pleasantly surprised by Tuvalu Telecom.
Visited: July 2024