Belize Cell Phone Carriers: Gsm Or Not?

Belize has a national telecommunications company, Belize Telemedia Limited, and several mobile phone companies providing coverage across most of the country and certain marine areas close to major coastal population centres. The country's mobile networks and carriers use 1 GSM band, 1 UMTS band, 3 LTE bands, and 2 CDMA bands. Belize Telemedia Ltd. offers its cellular service under the Digicell brand, a digital service on the GSM dual-band 850/1900 MHz technology, and on a 4G LTE network. SMART, the second-largest carrier, uses the CDMA network spectrum.

Belize's two mobile telecommunication operators

Belize has two mobile telecommunication operators: Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and SMART SPEEDNET. BTL, the major telecommunication company, is government-owned and offers its cellular service under the "Digicell" brand. Digicell is a digital service that runs on GSM dual-band 850/1900 MHz technology and a 4G LTE network provided by Huawei infrastructure. SMART SPEEDNET, on the other hand, is a privately-held company that has been operating since March 2005. SMART offers similar services to Digicell but uses the CDMA network spectrum and delivers all its services over WIFI and air spectrum.

Cellular phone and internet access rates in Belize are the highest in Central America. Despite this, the country enjoys good cellular service coverage, extending to most of the country and certain marine areas close to major coastal population centres. Both Digicell and SMART offer Post and Pre-Paid plans, with the former being attractive to business people, Belizeans, and expatriates due to its permanent cell number feature. In April 2023, both companies started offering eSIMs, with SMART also providing slightly lower prices compared to Digicell.

In terms of purchasing options, cell phones can be bought from both carriers through monthly loan payment plans, although these tend to be more expensive than buying from local cell phone distributors. Additionally, many Belizeans use unlocked U.S. carrier cell phones to connect to the local cell phone companies.

For U.S. users, AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM technology, which is compatible with Digicell Belize. However, for those using Verizon, an unlocked phone with CDMA 800 MHz or 850 MHz technology is required to work with SMART's network.

GSM-based DigiCell

Belize's cellular phone and Internet access rates are the highest in Central America. The country is well-served by cellular service, which covers most of the country and certain marine areas close to major coastal population centers.

Belize Telemedia Ltd. offers its cellular service under the "Digicell" brand, a digital service on the GSM dual-band 850/1900 MHz technology, and on a 4G LTE network provided by Huawei infrastructure.

Digicell is a Jamaican-based Caribbean mobile phone network and home entertainment provider operating in 25 markets worldwide. It was founded in 2001 by Irish entrepreneur Denis O'Brien. The company launched in Jamaica in April 2001 and has since expanded to several other countries, including Belize, Guyana, Fiji, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and Samoa.

Digicell offers both Post and Pre-Paid cell plans in Belize. The Post-Paid plans, also known as Digi Premier Plans, are attractive to businesspersons, Belizeans, or expatriates as they come with a permanent cell number. If you lose your phone or SIM card, you can get a replacement SIM for a nominal charge with the same number. As of April 2023, Digicell offers eSIMs to its customers.

To use Digicell in Belize, you will need a Digicell SIM card, a GSM phone that supports 1900 MHz radio frequency, and either a pre-paid card or a premium plan. Many Internet outlets sell "SIM starter packages" for Digicell service while traveling in Belize, which include a phone number and some startup minutes.

AT&T and T-Mobile, two major North American carriers, use GSM technology and are compatible with Digicell Belize. However, it's important to ensure your phone is unlocked and has the required bandwidths to use Digicell's service.

Digicell also offers various promotions and bundles, such as double or triple days on credit purchases and SMS bundles that can be purchased directly from your phone.

SMART uses CDMA

SMART, or Smart Communications Inc., is a wholly-owned wireless communications and digital services subsidiary of PLDT Inc., a telecommunications and digital services provider based in the Philippines. SMART is currently the largest mobile network in the Philippines, with 55.2 million subscribers as of November 2023. SMART offers commercial wireless services through its 2G, 3G, 3.5G HSPA+, 4G LTE, and LTE-A networks, and is currently deploying 5G in multiple locations across the Philippines.

SMART uses the CDMA network spectrum, which stands for Code Division Multiple Access. CDMA is a channel access method used by various radio communication technologies and is known for providing a better and more stable signal compared to other technologies. SMART operates as SMART SPEEDNET in Belize, where it is the second-largest telecommunication company in the country, behind the government-owned Belize Telemedia Limited, which operates under the "Digicell" brand. SMART offers slightly lower prices compared to Digicell and provides similar services, including cellular phone and internet access.

SMART Telecom (AIM: SMR) was also an Irish telecom operator that started as a phone card seller and became the third-largest provider of cost-sensitive telecom services in Ireland. However, this company was dissolved in March 2011 after being taken over by Digiweb in 2009.

Using a US-style SIM card in Belize

If you're planning a trip to Belize and want to stay connected, you may be considering using a US-style SIM card. Here's what you need to know:

US-Style SIM Cards in Belize:

Belize has two main mobile operators: Digi (formerly DigiCell) and Smart!. Both offer prepaid plans that can be purchased without restrictions by anyone 18 years or older. However, it's important to note that SIM cards are not sold at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City. You can buy SIM cards from Digi and Smart! stores, as well as some convenience stores, supermarkets, and service stations.

Network Compatibility:

Before using a US-style SIM card in Belize, ensure your phone is unlocked and compatible with the local networks. Belize's mobile networks use 1 GSM band, 1 UMTS band, 3 LTE bands, and 2 CDMA bands. Digi operates on GSM dual-band 850/1900 MHz technology, while Smart! uses the CDMA network spectrum.

Cost and Plans:

The cost of a Belizean SIM card varies between the two providers. Digi SIM cards are priced at 22.50 BZD (Belize Dollar), while Smart! offers theirs at 15 BZD. Tourist SIM cards are also available, ranging from 20 BZD to 45 BZD. These tourist SIM cards usually include a combination of calls, text messages, and data. For example, Smart! offers a tourist SIM for $45 USD, which includes $35 worth of calls, 130 SMS, and unlimited data for 10 days.

Top-Up Options:

Both Digi and Smart! offer various top-up options. You can purchase prepaid cards from their stores or authorised agents, recharge online using credit or debit cards, or top up through a mobile app. It's important to monitor your data usage, especially if you're on a prepaid plan, to avoid running out of credit unexpectedly.

Coverage:

Digi has the best coverage in Belize, although reception may be lacking in some rural areas. Smart! has good coverage in populated areas, but their 4G/LTE coverage is still limited. If you plan to visit remote locations, Digi would be the better option.

In conclusion, using a US-style SIM card in Belize is possible, but it's important to ensure compatibility with the local networks and be prepared for varying coverage and costs depending on your choice of provider.

Belize's telecommunication system

Radio and Television

As of 2007, there were around 25 radio stations broadcasting on approximately 50 frequencies. Radio stations were privatized in 1998, and there were 133,000 radios in the country in 1997. Belize has eight privately-owned television stations, and multi-channel cable TV provides access to foreign stations. In 1997, there were 41,000 television sets in the country.

Fixed-Line and Mobile Telephony

Belize has an above-average telephone system, with a domestic trunk network that primarily relies on microwave radio relay. The country's international call prefix is 00, and its country code is 501. As of 2012, there were 25,400 fixed-line subscriptions in use, resulting in a fixed-line teledensity of slightly less than 10 per 100 persons. Mobile cellular subscriptions, on the other hand, stood at 164,200 in 2012, with a mobile-cellular teledensity of approximately 70 per 100 persons.

The major telecommunication company in Belize is the government-owned Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), which offers cellular service under the "Digicell" brand. BTL provides digital service on the GSM dual-band 850/1900 MHz technology and a 4G LTE network. Cell plans are available as Post and Pre-Paid options. The second company, SMART SPEEDNET, is privately held and offers similar services as Digicell but uses the CDMA network spectrum.

Internet

Belize has several Internet Service Providers (ISPs), including BTL and Speed Net. The country has relatively high internet access rates compared to the rest of Central America. In 2012, there were 81,930 internet users in Belize, representing 25.0% of the population. Fixed broadband subscriptions stood at 10,077, while wireless broadband subscriptions were much lower at 419. Belize has a landing point for the ARCOS-1 fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable, providing links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US.

Frequently asked questions