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In the past it's been hard to obtain information about cellular roaming, the internet or even how to make a phone call cheaply from the Caribbean. We are changing that. Whether you are lounging on a beach or roaming by on a Cruise Ship this is the place to get the latest and greatest on staying connected.
First look up your island(s) and see what is available there. (Note prices are probably in local currency so don't jump to the conclusion that $500 means US dollars)
Second if you are going to be on a boat for a long time or bouncing from island to island you might consider a handheld satellite phone. Not good indoors but forget which island you're on or near, it just doesn't matter!
Third with certain collections of islands you will notice the same carrier on several, this is great. Cable & Wireless is present on most if not all of the formerly and currently British Islands. You can just stick with them. Digicel is also popular on several. Centennial could be your way to go on the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. If you are going to do the French Islands you might as well stick with Orange Caraibe or Bouyges. See the details of each below.
Fourth, if you are going to use a cellular/pcs phone note the following. You can bring your own or rent one depending of course on local services. You have either an analog, TDMA, CDMA, iDEN or GSM phone now. Just call your current company and ask. (iDEN is Nextel and roaming is TOO expensive and availability is impossible in most countries)
Analog only phones are very rare! You probably have upgraded to one of the others by now although your phone may be able to do analog also. The different systems you will find below have a system they use exclusively and you may have to rent or buy a phone for them. You can also buy them on Ebay just search for CDMA, GSM or TDMA.
Next if you have a GSM phone make sure it is not system locked, again call you cellular carrier. They should UNLOCK it if you have been a good customer and been with them a few months. If they won't!. Now see what band does it works on, check the manufacturers website. All US and maybe Canadian GSM phones work on 1900 mhz which is also used in Aruba, Antigua, , Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, the Dominican Republic and alot of the rest of the Western Hemisphere. If it is called a worldphone by your carrier it uses at least one of the other 2 bands also. The standard of most of the world is 900 and 1800 mhz, the ultimate is a triband which does 900, 1800 and 1900 mhz. Check GSM World for a long list of countries with GSM systems. GSM is worth the trouble because about 70% of the world's digital phones use it. AT&T is going GSM in a big way! (some of their service is already there).
(Now I have to make a subnote on something called 850mhz. It appears to be just another name for 800mhz. I think it may show up as the 4th GSM band. As they convert out the old technologies from 800mhz the term 850mhz seems to be coming up. I would appreciate an email from someone who has the inside scoop.) Also please email me about your experiences with cellular in the Caribbean and if you are a dealer there please give me your input as I may send you mention here.
Now for phones that work on 800mhz. They work on system A and/or B. You can play with this at home by following this document's instructions although they are meant for the islands. (Great going Cable & Wireless!) You can find their services very helpful in the formerly British Islands. They speak English and even understand American :)
Also for GSM you can use Apua PCS where most of the customers are pay as you go (they call it pre paid plan) and another amazing fact is your 1900mhz GSM phone from the US will work (if system unlocked) also the rates are not US Dollars so don't look so shocked. Even more convenient is that if you don't have the phone you can rent it from three locations on the island.
Antigua Wireless Ventures Ltd (AT&T Wireless) is supposed to be GSM 900 and 1900 although we have no proof at the moment the system is operational. internet service and telephone directory
Note that SETAR the local telephone company uses GSM 900 and 1900mhz (same as USA) and you can purchase your prepaid time and Aruban telephone number before you leave from UStronics. They also sell phones if you need one. Note that with their Pre-Paid cards all incoming calls are FREE so you don't use up any minutes! Also buy "recharge cards" in Aruba once you have purchased a SIM card and gotten your local phone number, don't buy another SIM card since you only need to buy extra minutes.
Check out Setar for more details about the company you would be using in Aruba. Also they have a phone book online.
Also note that GSM is also offered by Digicel, I'm still researching on what freguency though.
Thier other system is TDMA 800mhz System B, call BaTelCo at (242)352-9352 for info or Gizmos & Gadgets at (242)352-2255 (Keith) which is a dealer and rents phones if needed (7/03 report of $20 per day). (Gizmos is located in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island at #27 Parker Bldg). The phone company says that the Prepaid Wireless cards are available at some if not many supermarkets and gas stations.
If you are going to be boating deep into the islands you may just want to get a satellite phone below since it doesn't care if you are 100 miles from the nearest town.
Also for internet service click on BaTelNet. Also other internet providers. Call the Bahamas just as you would call any number in the US or Canada just use area code 242.
For cheap calling to the Bahamas check out CallBahamas.com.
GSM 1900 is being offered as by Cable and Wireless with their bFree Plan. This is prepaid service on a GSM phone.
Also GSM 900 & 1900 by Sunbeach with pre-paid of course for us tourists/vistors. Also internet service is available from Sunbeach.
Even GSM 900 and 1800 Cellular Communications Barbados (AT&T Wireless). The only one not compatible with all North American GSM phones. Your North American 1900 phone MUST be able to operate on 900 or 1800. Some do - some don't - check your owners manual, the manufactuers website or your service provider on how to switch back and forth from 1900.
NOTE: If you have a North American GSM phone, say from AT&T, T-Mobile, and others make REAL sure it's not system locked. Your provider can unlock it over the phone.
Internet service is provided by several companies in Barbados, some may be more suitable to short term us than others. Please check out local Internet Service Providers. Also for internet service which lets you roam though many countries.
Also CDMA is coming to Brasil with several systems using it. Here are the cellular systems. The company TeleSp has such a system, on the page is an interactive coverage map and FYI it's actually Portugese Telecom.
In Curitiba, Blumenau, Florianapolis, Foz do Iguacu, Londrina, Parana, Santa Catarina it's Global Telecom.
GlobalCom is supposed to have a CDMA 1900 system and building it out. Use the contact info on the page to get the latest.
If you have a GSM phone consider Orange Prepaid Cellular with this coverage area, here is a list of dealers . Here are the local telephone listings residencial listings and businesses listings. Internet providers
Also more information is at cellular coverage then look for the "Pay as You Go" banner in the services section and telephone directory
The company offers a prepaid phone card. This could be your best bet. I can't find a phone number for the phone company on the website but they can be emailed from the website http://www.gtt.co.gy/contus.html .
Internet Service is also offered. Prices again seem to be in local currency so don't be so shocked. The problem may be access to a telephone line. Check with where you will be staying and make sure they don't mind you tying up the phone line(s). They've basically rebuilt the phone system but it's about the size of the UK with a population of only about 800,000. If you're in the city chances are much better than the middle of the Jungle!
Internet Service Powerantilles and The List
More information on Telcel's GSM cellular service with it's coverage including roaming (they have agreements with other carriers). They are certainly not the only carrier in the country but I have yet to tackle Mexico and most of Central America. Also internet providers also NEW NUMBERING SYSTEM COVERSION the old phone numbers won't work! They now have area codes.
Also check with AT&T cellular and internet service.
Sprint PCS uses CDMA technology on 1900 mhz, therefore if you have Sprint PCS check to see if you pay any more than at home for minutes. Here is thier coverage, click on it to see where the coverage is.
And yet another choice is Verizon Wireless which appears to use the 1900 mhz band using CDMA technologies as does Sprint.
As for Alltell's CDMA service I have personally used it in July 2002 and it was cheaper than roaming in the
