Basics
These network operators are on the air covering the country in 2G on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz and 3G on 2100 MHz:
- Airtel
- Telma (Telecom Malagasy)
- Orange
- bip by Blueline (only 3G, 4G/TD-LTE)
Network coverage is still somewhat patchy in the country. There are areas without any signal. 3G with reasonable speeds can only be expected in towns. Telma 4G/LTE started in 2015 in 50 cities. Airtel, Orange and bip are planning to deploy 4G/LTE in the future too.
The first three operators share about 1/3 of the market each. Blueline started in 2014 with 3G and 4G/LTE in the capital of Antananarivo only. In 2016 their mobile brand called bip launched all over the country as 4th operator.
Regulations
You need a copy of your passport to purchase a SIM card. They also may take a picture of you at the place of purchase. All unaccounted SIM cards needed to be registered by 2016. Later they started to deactivate non-registered SIMs. Subscribers had 90 days from SIM deactivation to provide identification details in order to retain their mobile number, otherwise the mobile line was cancelled permanently.
Availability
Once you have passed customs' restricted area at the Antananarivo airport, you can get a prepaid SIM card from the counters of one of the providers: Airtel, Telma or Orange. They are usually open when there is an international flight. Otherwise you need to wait until you get in town. A SIM card costs between 2000 and 4000 Ar.
For top-ups you can buy a scratch card which can be sometimes only obtainable for low values like 1000 Ar or 2000 Ar in remote areas. Or you refill by "tele-charging" via the account of the sales person's phone to yours. Like in other parts of Africa, your prepaid account is used as a payment system too.
Airtel
Airtel, run by Indian Bharti Airtel, was called Madacom, Celtel and Zain before and has still the most customers on its net. It's coverage is very variable.
Availability
The SIM card called 'puce' is available for 2000-4000 Ar in their shops (list). There and at a lot of resellers, you can find their top-up vouchers.
Data feature packs
For data you have to activate one of these packages:
| Volume | Validity | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 MB | 1 day | 200 Ar | *114*41# |
| 35 MB | 600 Ar | *114*47# | |
| 60 MB | 1 000 Ar | *114*4# | |
| 150 MB | 2 000 Ar | *114*48# | |
| 175 MB | 7 days | 3 200 Ar | *114*6# |
| 400 MB | 6 200 Ar | *114*8# | |
| 650 MB | 10 200 Ar | *114*9# | |
| 1.2 GB | 30 days | 30 000 Ar | *114*11# |
| 2.5 GB | 40 000 Ar | *114*49# | |
| 6 GB | 80 000 Ar | *114*14# | |
| 10 GB | 120 000 Ar | *114*15# | |
| 16 GB | 180 000 Ar | *114*50# |
Overuse fee: 5 Ar per 10 KB. To check data volume, type *999*114#.
More info
- APN: internet
- Website: http://africa.airtel.com/wps/wcm/connect/africarevamp/Madagascar/
Telma (by Telecom Malagasy)
Telma short for Telecom Malagasy, is run by the now privatized incumbent operator of the country. They started 4G/LTE as first provider in 2015 in about 50 cities on 2600 MHz: 4G coverage map3G coverage map. Coverage can be patchy outside of major towns.
Availability
You need a copy of your passport to purchase the SIM card in one of their stores (store locator).
You can top-up with recharge cards of Ar 1000, 2000, 5000, 15000, 25000, 50000 giving 5 - 100 days of validity or do it online by a code. Check credit by typing #357# or #358#. Check data balance by typing #358*14#
Data feature packages
For data you need to add one of these packages:
| Volume | Night Bonus | Validity | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 MB | 10 MB | 1 day | 100 Ar | *322*67# |
| 40 MB | 1 night | 100 Ar | *322*61# | |
| 50 MB | 1 day | 1 000 Ar | *322*6# | |
| 100 MB | 50 MB | 7 days | 3 000 Ar | *322*70# |
| 250 MB | 100 MB | 6 000 Ar | *322*71# | |
| 500 MB | 250 MB | 10 000 Ar | *322*72# | |
| 1 GB | 12 500 Ar | *322*73# | ||
| 250 MB | 30 days | 10 000 Ar | *322*7# | |
| 500 MB | 15 000 Ar | *322*80# | ||
| 1 GB | 25 000 Ar | *322*8# | ||
| 3 GB | 50 000 Ar | *322*12# | ||
| 5 GB | 75 000 Ar | *322*13# | ||
| 8 GB | 99 000 Ar | *322*14# | ||
| 10 GB | 125 000 Ar | *322*9# | ||
| 20 GB | 149 000 Ar | *322*10# | ||
| 30 GB | 175 000 Ar | *322*11# | ||
| 50 GB | 195 000 Ar | *322*15# | ||
| 250 MB
per month |
3 months | 30 000 Ar | *322*81# | |
| 6 months | 60 000 Ar | *322*82# | ||
| 9 months | 90 000 Ar | *322*86# | ||
| 12 months | 110 000 Ar | *322*83# |
Data is up to 4G/LTE and will be cut off having reached the included volume.
More info
- APN: internet
- Website in French: http://www.telma.mg
Orange
Orange covers 85% of population on 2G and about 150 towns on 3G in 2015. Some call it the best coverage in the country, but this is very variable. A new licence allows the operator to offer 4G services on 1800 MHz, testing for which began taking place in 2016 with plans to roll out their LTE network gradually over the course of 2017.
Availability
SIM card costs 1500 Ar or more. You need a copy of your passport to purchase the SIM card called "puce". They are sold in their shops: list (for other locations change at top menu). Their default tariff from the start is called 'IZY' and does not include data.
To top-up, you can use recharge cards sold everywhere or through "tele-charging".
Data feature packs
These packages called BE CONNECT are sold for data:
| Volume | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 10 MB | 1 day | 200 Ar |
| 20 MB | 500 Ar | |
| 50 MB | 1 000 Ar | |
| 100 MB | 3 days | 3 000 Ar |
| 250 MB | 5 days | 7 200 Ar |
| 500 MB | 7 days | 13 500 Ar |
| 1 GB | 21 days | 34 500 Ar |
| 3 GB | 30 days | 77 500 Ar |
| 5 GB | 97 000 Ar | |
| 8 GB | 148 500 Ar | |
| 10 GB | 175 000 Ar | |
| 20 GB | 45 days | 220 000 Ar |
| 30 GB | 60 days | 245 000 Ar |
| 50 GB | 275 000 Ar |
The first two packages on the list can be booked twice per day, the others only once in the validity period. To activate a package go to the recharge site or type #123#, then go to "offres Orange" and follow instructions in French. Wikipedia traffic is free of charge.
More info
- APN: orangenet
- Check data balance: dial #358#
- Website in French: http://www.orange.mg
bip (by Blueline)
In 2016 the 4th operator in Madagascar started called bip. It only offers 3G without fallback to 2G, but 4G/LTE is planned. The coverage is said to be "in all 22 regions" of the country. This is probably archieved through a national roaming agreement between Blueline and Telma.
Availability
Their SIM card called Tongasoa is sold at their stores (click on map) for 1500 Ar including 6 domestic mins, 6 dom. SMS, 20 MB data and 500 AR credit. They sold more than 10,000 SIMs within the first months.
To top-up buy a recharge voucher in one of their outlets (list), type *396*<voucher code>#. Check balance by *399#.
Data feature packages
To start data, you need to type *398# and have a default rate of 20 Ar per MB. Thess packages can be added:
| Volume | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 MB | 1 day | 100 Ar |
| 10 MB | 200 Ar | |
| 20 MB | 500 Ar | |
| 50 MB | 1 000 Ar | |
| 75 MB | 2 days | 1 500 Ar |
| 100 MB | 3 days | 3 000 Ar |
| 250 MB | 5 days | 7 200 Ar |
| 500 MB | 7 days | 13 500 Ar |
| 1 GB | 21 days | 34 500 Ar |
Activation is through *398#. Facebook and some other sites (list) are unlimited for free on bip.
More info
- APN: bip
- Website in French: http://www.bip.mg/
Blueline
ISP Gulfsat Madagascar, which operates under the Blueline banner offers 3G and 4G/LTE internet in the capital of Anatanarivo only. This is not so suitable for traveller, but more like a substitute for home ADSL. 3G is probably through their roaming agreement with Telma, 4G/LTE is on their own TD-LTE in 2500 MHz (band 41) which is unsual.
Availability
Their 3G SIM is sold at their shops (list) for 15,000 Ar with 500 MB for 7 days. A USB dongle is at 49,000 Ar including a SIM with 1 GB for 30 days.
Their 4G offer is only on a monthly postpaid basis and 3G is only sold within the capital area and not recommended for travelling.
Data feature packages
These data packs are offered on 3G for prepaid:
| Data | Validity | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 MB | 7 days | 1 000 Ar | *139*1# |
| 100 MB | 7 days | 2 500 Ar | *139*2# |
| 250 MB | 7 days | 5 000 Ar | *139*5# |
| 1 GB | 7 days | 15 000 Ar | *139*9# |
| 200 MB | 30 days | 10 000 Ar | *139*4# |
| 500 MB | 30 days | 20 000 Ar | *139*7# |
| 750 MB | 30 days | 25 000 Ar | *139*8# |
| 1 GB | 30 days | 35 000 Ar | *139*10# |
| 3 GB | 30 days | 60 000 Ar | *139*11# |
| 10 GB | 30 days | 120 000 Ar | *139*12# |
More info
- Website in French: http://www.blueline.mg