Flag of Curaçao
Basics[]
This article refers to the islands of Curaçao and Bonaire in the Carribean where the same operators are active and form a common network. Both islands are separate jurisdictions and yet belong to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Together with Aruba, they used to form the ABC islands group.
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Flag of Bonaire
On Curaçao and Bonaire two operators are on the air:
- Digicel
- UTS (Chippie)
2G is on the European frequencies of 900 and 1800 MHz, 3G on 2100 MHz (and on Chippie/UTS additionally on 850 MHz). It covers most of the islands. 4G/LTE has started on UTS/Chippie in 2015 and Digicel in 2017. Both operators started calling their 3G-based network "4G" before starting LTE.
Roaming[]
Unlike the French West Indies, Bonaire and Curaçao are not part of the EU and therefore EU roaming regulations don't apply. Your home provider may charge calls and data at very high rates.
While both networks roam free between Bonaire and Curaçao, Digicel offers roaming at no extra cost on the third island of the ABC group Aruba on its own network there, but on no other Caribbean Digicel network. Meanwhile UTS (Chippie) gives non-surcharged roaming in "Chippieland" namely St. Maarten / St. Martin (on both sides), Saba, St. Barth's, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Statia, but not on Aruba.
Digicel[]
Digicel has a 2G and 3G network, that it used to call "4G" on both islands. In 2017 Digicel began offering real 4G/LTE services for their customers on Band 3 (1800 MHz). See here for more information.
Network quality is generally pretty good. Only some beaches in the northwestern part of Curaçao are mostly not covered by the 4G/LTE network (if at all). On clear days, the network can even be received on Klein Curaçao (which is about 11 km off the coast of Curaçao): coverage map of Bonaire coverage map of Curaçao
Digicel is market leader with a 55% market share in Curaçao and around 75% in Bonaire. Below are the prices given in ANG (Netherlands Antillean guilder), also written as NAF or Fl, for Curaçao as most travellers will access Bonaire through Curaçao. Slightly different prices in US$ apply to Bonaire.
Availability[]
Purchase a SIM card from one of the Digicel retailer and stores (stores in Curaçao- store in Bonaire). The price for a prepaid SIM card currently is Fl 25 and includes Fl 20 credit. Note that you will need to show a government issued ID or your passport at the point of purchase.
Top-up credit can be bought in almost every store or supermarket around the island. Many of them have a Digicel logo in their window. Or do it online on their international site, using a credit or debit card.
Data feature packs[]
Default data outside of packages is Fl. 0.66 per MB in Curaçao or $0.36 in Bonaire. These prepaid plans include 4G/LTE. Here are the prices for Curacao:
| Time | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 75 MB | Fl. 2.50 |
| 150 MB | Fl. 4 | |
| 3 days | 500 MB | Fl. 10 |
| 7 days | 1 GB | Fl. 20 |
| 30 days | 3.5 GB | Fl. 55 |
All plans must be activated by entering *123#. All plans include unlimited WhatsApp not debited from the data allowance (except for voice or video calls).
Prices in Fl. or NAF apply to Curaçao only, in Bonaire the US$ equivalents are charged for the same packages. To get the US$ price divide by 1.79, the official pegged USD/ANG exchange rate. After exceeding your quota, you'll receive an SMS informing you about this. To prevent any further billing to your credit deactivate mobile data as soon as possible or buy a new package. Check data balances by *142*9#.
They now offer three so-called LTE combo plans with all-in data, and unlimited WhatsApp (no VoIP included) and unlimited on-net voice and text:
| Time | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 300 MB | Fl. 5.50 |
| 3 days | 700 MB | Fl. 12 |
| 7 days | 1.5 GB | Fl. 25 |
| 30 days | 4 GB | Fl. 65 |
| 30 days | 6 GB* | Fl. 95 |
(*) = the 6 GB is upgraded to 18 GB when you purchase it via their MyDigicel app
These packages can be a better deal for data. Purchase is only online or through the Digicel app. Overuse fee is Fl. 0.66/MB or $ 0.36. Unused minutes and data of the Quick Pick Bundles roll over once you allow the plans to auto-renew or if you activate the same or another plan before expiry.
Roaming options[]
Digicel offers data roaming without surcharges on all three major islands of the Dutch Antilles (ABC-islands): Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. That means you pay the same domestic rate (in AWG) like in Curacao (in ANG) or Bonaire (in USD).
However, this is not valid for the other networks of Digicel in the Caribbean, only Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are seen as one common network. To roam elsewhere on Digicel networks in the Caribbean you can buy a Roam like you're Home roaming pass by pressing *153# for Fl. 10 or $6 valid for 10 days. This reduces the data rate to still high US$ 0.50 per MB.
More info[]
- APN: web.digicelcuracao.com
- Website for Curacao: http://www.digicelgroup.com/cw/en/mobile.html
- Website for Bonaire: http://www.digicelgroup.com/an/en/mobile.html
Flow[]
Flow - rebranded from UTS in 2019, offers prepaid service in Curacao and Bonaire and some other Caribbean islands formerly called Chippieland. They still call their prepaid product Chippie, the old name for the entire carrier.
Flow has a slightly better coverage on Curaçao and Bonaire than Digicel. Like them, Flow called its UMTS-based 3G network "4G". Real 4G/LTE started in 2015 around Willemsted in the central part of Curaçao on 1800 MHz (Band 3) and covers now most of the islands.
old logo
Availability[]
Their "4G+ Basic"-SIM is sold in their Flow stores at 50 Fl. with around 25 Fl. credit. Top-up vouchers are available for 5, 10 and 25 Fl., some give 5-15% bonus credit.
In Bonaire, there is a preloaded SIM option where for $16, the SIM is sold to you with unlimited on-net minutes, 10 SMS, and 1.5 GB data valid for 7 days, after which the SIM can be reloaded with any of the data packs or combo bundles below. Check your balance by #191#. If your SIM is not recharged within 150 calendar days after the last date of recharge of your account, it will expire.
Data feature packs[]
Their default data rate called Surf Pay as you go is at Fl. 0.69 per MB in Curaçao and $ 0.38 per MB in Bonaire. To activate, text 'SURF ON' to 3434, to stop data, text 'SURF STOP' to 3434.
Combo bundles with voice, SMS, and data are available, activate by sending the code to 3434. These bundles are available in Curacao:
| Validity | Data | Voice | SMS | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 500 MB | 1000 min | 50 | Fl. 5 | combo1d |
| 3 days | 1 GB | 1000 min | 90 | Fl. 12 | combo3d |
| 7 days | 2 GB | unlimited | unlimited | Fl. 24 | combo7d |
| 30 days | 10 GB | Fl. 135 | combo30d |
While in Bonaire, the bundles have slightly different allowances, activation code and method is same as for Curacao:
| Validity | Data | Voice | SMS | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 500 MB | 1000 min | 100 | $2.50 |
| 3 days | 1.5 GB | 1000 min | 200 | $6 |
| 7 days | 2 GB | unlimited | 300 | $12 |
| 30 days | 9 GB | 500 | $70 |
These bundles called Smart Surf Bundles are sold and are on 4G/LTE in Curaçao and Bonaire too:
| Plan | Data | Price in
Bonaire |
Price in
Curacao |
Activation |
| daily | 70 MB | Fl. 2.49 | surfd70 | |
| 100 MB | $ 1.49 | surfd100 | ||
| 250 MB | Fl. 4 | surf1d | ||
| 1 GB | $3 | data1d | ||
| 3 days | 800 MB | Fl. 9.99 | surf3d | |
| 1.5 GB | $6 | data3d | ||
| 7 days | 1.5 GB | Fl. 16 | surf7d | |
| 2 GB | $10 | data7d | ||
| 30 days | 1 GB | $ 20 | Fl. 35 | (surf/data)30ds |
| 4 GB | $ 30 | Fl. 59 | (surf/data)30dl |
Prices in US$ are for Bonaire and in ANG/Fl. for Curacao. For activation, text code to 3434. For the 30 day bundle, use the appropriate prefix depending on where you bought your SIM- "surf" for Curacao, "data" for Bonaire. Data credit can be checked by texting 'SURF VAL' to 3434. To stop the renewing daily bundle, text 'SURF STOP' to 3434. Data rolls over from your previous data balance with re-activation of a bundle within 24 hours of expiry of your previous bundle.
Tourist SIM[]
In 2017 they've introduced their Smart Tourist SIM on the island of Curaçao. It's available in all Flow stores and comes in 2 varieties, priced in US$ unlike the local SIM starter:
- 1 GB, 100 local mins, 10 local SMS for 30 days: US$20
- 3 GB, 300 local mins, 30 local SMS for 30 days: US$30
Note that the Smart Tourist SIM has a validity of 30 days and will be blocked after this period. The only available data bundle is 1 GB for Fl. 10 valid until your SIM expires A new SIM must be purchased when the 30 days is up. Generally, they don't seem such a good deal compared to the local SIM.
Roaming options[]
An UTS data plan activated in Curaçao or Bonaire works at no extra cost in St. Maarten / St. Martin (both French and Dutch parts), Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Kitts & Nevis, what they used to call "Chippieland". For the US, Netherlands, Aruba, and other Flow markets in the Caribbean, they offer these two bundles (priced in US$ even in Curacao):
- 250 MB, 30 mins, unlimited SMS for 1 day: $5.99
- 1.5 GB, 75 mins, unlimited SMS for 7 days: $39.99
More info[]
- APN: premium
- Website for Curacao: https://www.uts.cw/
- Website for Bonaire: http://www.utsbonaire.com