Unlocked Phones: Using Mobile Devices In Bolivia

Bolivia has three phone companies: Entel, Tigo, and Viva. These companies offer phone and mobile services without limitations to foreigners. To activate your phone for calls and internet use in Bolivia, you can do it very easily in Entel offices just by presenting your passport or Visa. You can also get a Bolivian chip installed in your phone.

Phone compatibility

There are only three phone companies operating in Bolivia: Entel, Tigo, and Viva. These companies offer phone and mobile services without limitations to foreigners.

To use your phone in Bolivia, it must meet the technical requirements in bandwidth (750 MHz, 850 MHz, 1,700 MHz, etc.). You can check the compatibility of your phone with the frequency bands used in Bolivia using a website like Kimovil Frequency Checker.

If your phone is compatible, you can get it activated in Bolivia by visiting an agency of one of the three phone companies with your passport or visa. The activation fee is around $30.

If you want to use a local SIM card, you can purchase a cheap "dumb" phone in Bolivia or activate your own phone with a Bolivian number.

Some travellers have reported using an iPhone in Bolivia without any issues, while others have mentioned getting a Bolivian chip installed in their phone.

It is recommended to use Entel, the largest telecommunications and phone company in Bolivia, owned and managed by the government. Entel has the best network across Bolivia, with more areas covered and cheaper prices. Their plans range from $1.5 to $50, and a $30 plan should be enough for a whole month in most cases.

Tigo is the second-largest phone company in Bolivia and is part of a larger network of enterprises across South America. Their plans are slightly more expensive than Entel, and they also offer additional services like a phone wallet system and a sports streaming service.

Viva is the third-largest telecommunications company in Bolivia and is currently struggling to maintain its market presence. Their plans are a little more expensive than Entel, and they also offer apps for playing games and listening to music.

It is worth noting that Bolivia lags behind in the development of telecommunications compared to more developed countries. The average download speed for mobile internet is 10.24 Mbit/second, and 4G mobile networks may not be able to handle 4K video download speeds.

Phone companies in Bolivia

Bolivia has a range of phone companies offering mobile services to its citizens and visitors. The country has a relatively low penetration rate of mobile services compared to other countries, with 12.58 million connections in 2022, which equates to an average of 1.00 mobile phones per person.

The main mobile network operators in Bolivia are Entel, Tigo, and Viva. These three companies are in a tight competition for market share, with each offering various services and awards. For example, in a report by Opensignal, Viva won the Availability award with a score of 98%, meaning their users were connected to 3G or better services almost all of the time. Tigo won the Excellent and Core Consistent Quality awards, meeting the minimum performance thresholds for high-quality applications. Entel and Tigo jointly won the 4G Coverage Experience award, with their users connecting to 4G services in more than five out of 10 locations.

Other mobile network operators in Bolivia include Claro, Cotas, and Nuevatel (operating under the Viva brand name). In addition to these companies, there are also mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) that lease wireless services from major carriers, such as Tuenti (using the Movistar network) and Nuestro (using the Personal network).

When choosing a phone company in Bolivia, it is essential to consider factors such as coverage, speed, and the types of applications you plan to use. It is also worth noting that Bolivia lags behind in the development of telecommunications compared to more developed countries, which may impact your experience.

Phone activation

To activate your phone in Bolivia, you will need to ensure it meets the technical requirements in terms of bandwidth (750 MHz, 850 MHz, 1,700 MHz, etc.). The compatibility of your phone with the frequency bands used in Bolivia will determine the extent of your coverage. While a lack of certain frequency bands does not mean your phone will not work, it may result in limited coverage in certain areas.

Once you have checked your phone's compatibility, you can proceed with activation. Bolivia has three phone companies: Entel, Tigo, and Viva. To activate your phone with a Bolivian number, simply visit an agency of one of these companies and provide your passport and visa. The activation process typically costs around $30.

For Entel, you can visit their headquarters in La Paz or find one of their several hundred agencies spread across the country. Many of their agencies operate from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays, with some also open on Saturdays and Sunday mornings.

Tigo agencies generally follow a similar schedule, with some agencies in commercial areas open until 7 or 8 pm. You can find Tigo's main agency in La Paz near the San Francisco church.

Viva agencies are typically open from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays and Saturdays, with some agencies in commercial areas open from 9 am to 7 pm, seven days a week. You can find their main agencies in La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz.

It is worth noting that Bolivia's internet speed for mobile devices ranks 138th internationally, with an average download speed of 10.24 Mbit/second. The country is also behind in the development of telecommunications when compared to the United States. Therefore, you may experience limitations in certain functionalities, such as accessing Facebook and Skype, depending on your phone and plan.

Phone plans

Bolivia has three phone companies: Entel, Tigo, and Viva. Entel is the largest, with 49% of the market share, followed by Tigo (38%), and Viva (12%).

All three companies offer prepaid and postpaid mobile plans, ranging from $1.50 to $50. Prepaid plans are available as recharge cards, with the cheapest option providing 1GB or 9 minutes for $1.50, and the most expensive offering 25GB or 190 minutes for $30.

Postpaid plans are more expensive, with prices ranging from $14 to $46 for 40-150 minutes and 7-30 GB. International calling is also available for $5-$7 per minute.

If you are planning to stay in Bolivia for an extended period, you may want to consider a postpaid plan. However, if you are just visiting for a short time, a prepaid plan might be more suitable and cost-effective.

To activate your phone with a Bolivian number, simply visit an agency of one of the three providers and bring your passport or visa. The activation fee is typically around $30.

It is worth noting that Bolivia's mobile internet speeds are relatively slow compared to other countries. As of 2024, the country ranks 138th in mobile internet download speed, with an average speed of 10.24 Mbit/second.

In terms of choosing a provider, Entel is the most popular option and is recommended by locals for its good service, wide coverage, and affordable prices. Tigo is a close second and offers additional services such as Tigo Money, a phone wallet system, and Tigo Roaming, which allows users to use their Bolivian phone line in 145 countries. Viva, the smallest of the three providers, is currently struggling to maintain its market share and has been acquired by a US company.

Overall, Bolivia offers a range of phone plan options to suit different needs and budgets. The process of activating a phone plan is straightforward, and you can easily switch between providers if needed.

Network coverage

Bolivia has three phone companies: Entel, Tigo, and Viva. Entel is the largest, with 49% of the market share, followed by Tigo (38%), and Viva (12%).

Entel is a government-owned company, which was founded over 60 years ago with the goal of expanding connectivity and communications across the country. It offers mobile phone connectivity, home and mobile internet, and satellite TV across Bolivia, including rural areas. To get your phone activated with a Bolivian number on the Entel network, you need to go to an Entel agency with your passport or visa and pay a fee of around $30.

Tigo is the second-largest phone company in Bolivia and is part of a larger network of enterprises across South America, owned by Millicom, a company based in Luxembourg. Tigo offers similar services to Entel, and to activate a foreign phone on its network, you need to go to a Tigo agency with your passport and visa and buy a mobile plan for around $30.

Viva is the smallest of the three companies, with only 12.9% of the market share, and it has been recently acquired by a US company. To activate your phone on the Viva network, you need to go to a Viva agency with your passport and visa and pay a fee of around $30.

All three companies offer prepaid and postpaid mobile plans ranging from $1.5 to $50.

In terms of network coverage, Entel has the best coverage across Bolivia, with more areas covered, especially in rural regions. Tigo and Viva are known for having issues with connectivity and interruptions.

To have perfect coverage in Bolivia, your smartphone should have all the networks used in the country. However, if your phone lacks any of the frequency bands used, it may still work, but coverage could be limited to certain areas.

The frequencies supported in Bolivia are:

• B2 (1900)
• B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1)
• B12 (700)
• B13 (700)
• B17 (700)
• B28a (700)
• B44 (TDD 700)
• B5 (850)

Frequently asked questions