Basics
There are three mobile operators in Tunisia:
- Tunisie Télécom
- ooredoo (formerly Tunisiana)
- Orange
All 2G is on 900 and 1800 MHz, 3G in the populated areas on 2100 MHz up to HSDPA speed like in Europe, 4G/LTE has started in 2016 in major towns on all three providers in 800 and 1800 MHz and gives theoretical speeds of up to 150 Mbps. Generally, coverage and speeds are pretty good for an African country.
Tunisie Télécom and ooredoo both have the best network. Orange has a slightly smaller network but still reaches 87% of the population with 3G and is heavily investing into 4G/LTE. Lycamobile has soft-launched as first MVNO in the country on Tunisie Télécom in 2015.
For buying a SIM card, you need to show your passport at the point of purchase for registration. Starters are sometimes as low as 1 DT or can be up to 10 DT with some credit pre-loaded. You can top-up at kiosks, but it's common that you will be charged about 10% of the face value for this service.
Tunisie Télécom
The incumbent (and partly state-owned) operator in the country is the no.2 network what number of subscribers is concerned with a 34% share in 2015. 4G/LTE is available at the same rates as 3G in the areas of Greater Tunis (Tunis, Ariana, Ben Arous, Mannouba), Bizerte, Sousse and Sfax in 2016.
Availability
Their prepaid SIM card called Mobi is sold at their sales points (list). You can top-up with e-tickets in many stores from 1-20 DT. A service charge of 10% is added. Validity is 10-180 days depending on amount.
Data feature packages
For more than 7 days, you have to buy one of their regular data packs on 2G/3G and 4G:
| Validity | Data Volume | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | 50 MB | 0.2 DT | *140*7# |
| until midnight | 100 MB | 0.4 DT | *140*6# |
| 24 hours | 200 MB | 0.8 DT | *140*1# |
| 48 hours | 400 MB | 1.6 DT | *140*8# |
| 7 days | 800 MB | 3.2 DT | *140*9# |
| 30 days | 2.25 GB | 10 DT | *140*10# |
| 30 days | 5 GB | 20 DT | *140*3# |
Out of package charge is 0.001 DT per 10 KB. Credit can be checked by *122# , data credit by *122*2#
Recharges are available everywhere by voucher or electronic topup. A recharge of 5 DT is valid for 3 months, of 10 DT for 6 months to top-up type *123*<voucher code># and <call>. The tourist SIM is valid for 90 days only.
Data-only SIM
Their data-only SIM in up to 4G too is managed on your online account (mon compte). Standard rate is 0.01 DT per 10 KB. These packages called forfaits dim@net prepayé are offered:
- 500 MB for 2 days: 2 DT, *145*4#
- 2 GB for 15 days: 8 DT, *145*2#
- 4 GB for 30 days: 16 DT, *145*5#
- 5 GB for 30 days: 20 DT, *145*6#
More info
- APN: internet.tn
- Websites in French: http://www.tunisietelecom.tn/ and http://www.tt4g.tn/
ooredoo (formerly Tunisiana)
Ooredoo has rebranded the Tunisiana label a few years ago. Their network is generally on par with Tunesie Télécom what coverage and speed is concerned: 2G 3G 4G coverage map. They remain market leader with a 43% share in 2015 aqnd a 99% coverage with 3G. 4G/LTE was started in 2016.
Availability
Their SIM card is sold at their sales points (locator) in different plans that don't make a big difference for data. The best plan may be called Awal á la carte because it gives 800 MB for free when you have used 8 DT before and gives more options. Change plan by *140#.
Holiday SIM
Ooredoo offers a Holiday SIM for tourists that is valid for 90 days. Top-ups are available for 5 DT (plus 100 % bonus), 10 DT (plus 200 % bonus) and 25 DT (plus 400 % bonus). The Holiday SIM is sold for 10 DT with 10 DT airtime credit, but has no internet included. You will be offered 1 GB at 2 DT if you have consumed more than 7 DT already.
Data feature packages
Default data rate is 0.4 DT per 100 KB. They have the following data packages:
| Validity | Volume | Price | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 125 MB | 0.5 DT | |
| 1 day | 250 MB | 1 DT | |
| 2 days | 500 MB | 2 DT | |
| 7 days | 1 GB | 4 DT | |
| 30 days | 2.25 GB | 10 DT | |
| 30 days | 5 GB | 20 DT | |
| 30 days | 7 GB | 30 DT | 30 dom. mins |
| 30 days | 10 GB | 45 DT | 120 dom. mins |
| 60 days | 12.5 GB | 55 DT | 150 dom. mins |
To activate use code *124# choose the package and "activer l'offre" or on your online account. Packages don't auto-renew, they have to be booked again, except the 0.5 DT bundle.
For Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin up to 1 GB/month or Facebook only with 225 MB per week you can add an add-on for 4 DT per month or 0.9 DT per week by *124#.
On the plan Awal á la carte only you can add 500 MB per month at DT 5.
Data-only SIM
For their data-only SIM they offer a 3G USB dongle (Huawei E3531 or E3256) or a 4G USB dongle (Huawei E3372). These data packages for the SIM in 2-4G can be booked on your private account (Espace client):
- 500 MB for 1 day: 2 DT
- 750 MB for 2 days: 3 DT
- 1.25 GB for 7 days: 5 DT
- 2 GB for 14 days: 8 DT
- 2.5 GB for 30 days: 10 DT
- 4 GB for 30 days: 16 DT
- 7.5 GB for 30 days: 30 DT
- 10 GB + unlimited night data 10pm-8am for 30 days: 40 DT
- 15 GB + unlimited night data 10pm-8am for 60 days: 60 DT
More info
- APN: internet.ooredoo.tn
- Website in French: http://www.ooredoo.tn/
Orange Tunisie
Orange Tunesie is the smallest network operator in the country and doesn't have a tourist offer. It has a share of 23% in 2015, but grows rapidly. 4G/LTE has already started in at least 20 cities in 2016.
Availability
Their SIM card is available at their shops (locator) for 5 DT. Loading the card can be done in chunks of 5 DT (1 DT on some plans). Load at least 5 DT and get a bonus as described in the SMS. Check your balance with *101#.
At the internatl. airport of Tunis SIM cards are given out for free as you enter baggage claim. You can top them up at the Orange kiosk outside in the arrivals hall. They can cut SIMs to nano there too.
Plans called Zen, Tehabbel, Edawa5, 3ajab, 3alami, Boouj or Connecti don't have a base rate. On the Zen and 3alami plans you get 1 GB for 1 month after having consumed at least 10 DT on Tehabbel and 3ajab 700 MB as bonus on Boouj even 2 GB for a 7 DT consumption. On Connecti you will get 5 DT for calls as bonus after having used 5 DT for data (1.25 GB).
On their data-focused Connecti 0.4 DT per MB is their default rate which is the lowest. You can switch to this plan for 2 DT by *111# -> 1 -> 4 and choose Connecti.
Data feature.packages
By *400# you enable data on the default rate valid on all plans. 100 MB per day until midnight at 0.4 DT. This option auto-renews every day. To stop, type *400*3#.
Their data packs work with every prepaid SIM plan. Activation by typing *120*3#:
| Validity | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 125 MB | 0.5 DT |
| 1 day | 250 MB | 1 DT |
| 7 days | 700 MB | 5 DT |
| 30 days | 2 GB | 10 DT |
1 day means until midnight. To check data consumption, type *120*5.
Data-only SIM
Like their competitors, they offer a 3G dongle together with a data-only SIM card called Pack Clé 3G. A 3G Huawei E3531 with 5 GB for 1 month at 20 DT or for 3 months at 65 DT or a 4G Huawei E3722 with 5 GB for 1 month at 40 DT. A wireless hotspot router (Domino E5220) is also offered with 5 GB for 1 month at 159 DT. These packages called Pass Internet in 2-4G can be added:
- 500 MB for 2 days: 2 DT
- 1 GB for 4 days: 4 DT
- 2 GB for 14 days: 8 DT
- 3 GB for 30 days: 12 DT
- 4 GB for 30 days: 16 DT
- 5 GB (including unlimited data 2pm-5pm) for 30 days: 20 DT
- 7.5 GB (including unlimited data 11pm-8am) for 30 days: 30 DT
More info
- APN: weborange
- Tethering: yes
- Website in French: http://www.orange.tn/
Lycamobile Tunesie
Lycamobile is the first MVNO in the country that started in 2015 and already reached 130,000 customers in its first 6 months. It uses the network of Tunisie Télécom on 2G and 3G only, no 4G so far.
Availability
For a start, it's be sold in about 68,000 outlets, where you can top-up too. As usual, the SIM card is free, but you are expected to make a recharge rightaway. You can top-up online too by internatl. credit card. They offer big bonuses for top-us, but this bonus credit can't be used for data passes.
Data feature packages
There seems to be no data outside of packages. These packages for data are offered:
| Validity | Data | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 200 MB | 0.8 DT | *139*1001# |
| 7 days | 800 MB | 3.2 DT | *139*1002# |
| 30 days | 1 GB | 5 DT | *139*1015# |
| 30 days | 2.5 GB | 10 DT | *139*1010# |
| 30 days | 5 GB | 20 DT | *139*1025# |
When you have used up all data, you can buy a new package anytime (which is unusual with Lycamobile) or will be charged at the default rate.
More info
- APN: data.lycamobile.tn
- Username: lmtn
- Password: plus
- Website in English: http://www.lycamobile.tn/en/