Belize's Phone Systems: Options

Belize has a good nationwide phone system, with a standardised seven-digit numbering system. The country's telecommunications system is making progress towards being more developed. Belize Telemedia Ltd., the largest telecom company in Belize, offers the only landline service and is dominant in mobile. There are also several mobile phone companies providing fairly good coverage. Belize uses both GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks.

Belize's telecommunication companies

Belize has a national telecommunications company, Belize Telemedia Limited, which is government-owned and provides wired and wireless services under the Digi brand. It was established in 1972 as the Telecommunications Authority and became the country's leading telecommunication provider in the 1980s and 1990s. Belize Telemedia offers cellular service under the "Digicell" brand, which operates on a GSM dual band and 4G LTE network. The company also provides landline services with around 26,000 subscribers, mainly in larger cities.

The second-largest telecommunication company in Belize is SMART SPEEDNET, a privately-held company that began operating in 2005. SMART offers similar services to Digicell but uses the CDMA network spectrum. SMART's prices are slightly lower than Digicell's, and its services are delivered over WiFi and air spectrum.

Other mobile phone companies in Belize include SMART, which operates a national cellular system using CDMA technology, and Quicksilver Belize. There are also several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Belize, including Speed Net and BTL.

Belize's telecommunication system is considered above average, with a domestic trunk network that primarily depends on microwave radio relay. The country has access to the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fibre-optic telecommunications submarine cable, which provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US.

Cell phone coverage in Belize

Belize has a national telecommunications company, Belize Telemedia Limited, and several mobile phone companies providing good coverage. The country is well-served by cellular service, which covers most of the country and certain marine areas close to major coastal population centers. However, there are still some remote, small villages, protected areas, and uninhabited areas with no cell phone coverage.

Belize Telemedia Ltd. offers its cellular service under the "Digicell" brand, which operates on GSM dual-band 850/1900 MHz technology and 4G LTE networks. DigiCell has a wide coverage area and offers affordable packages for SIM card activation. They sell local prepaid phone cards in various denominations, although the initial SIM card and activation cost BZ$45, including BZ$20 of calls. Calls within Belize are BZ$0.50, and there is no charge for incoming calls.

The second-largest company is SMART SPEEDNET, a private company that delivers its services over WiFi and air spectrum. SMART uses the CDMA network spectrum and offers slightly lower prices compared to Digicell. SMART has a very limited service range, only available to visitors staying in small villages.

Most US carriers offer service in Belize, but it is a very expensive option. US-style SIM cards can be used in Belize, and unlocked phones will provide the most coverage.

Landlines in Belize

Belize has a developing telecommunications infrastructure, and telephony services are becoming increasingly accessible to both residents and expatriates. The country's national telecommunications company, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), is the largest telecommunications provider in Belize and is partially owned by the Belizean government. BTL offers both landline and mobile services, with 26,000 landline subscribers.

The process of arranging a landline connection in Belize is straightforward. You can visit any branch of the telephone company, such as BTL, and provide the necessary documentation and deposit. A technician will then be sent to your home or business to install the required equipment, such as a landline phone, and ensure it is functioning correctly.

It is worth noting that Belize's telecommunications system is still a work in progress. While the national phone company provides good coverage, including 4G services in certain areas, there are still remote villages, protected areas, and uninhabited regions with no cell phone coverage.

Using a mobile phone in Belize

Belize has a national telecommunications company, Belize Telemedia Limited, and several mobile phone companies providing good coverage across most of the country and certain marine areas close to major coastal population centres. The country's telecommunications system is making progress toward being more developed, but there are still some remote, small villages, protected areas, and uninhabited areas without coverage.

If you are staying in Belize for a short time, you can use your hotel's phone. If you are staying for longer, you can buy or rent a mobile phone or get a landline.

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. Digicell offers both pre-paid and post-paid plans. As of April 2023, Digicell offers eSIMs to its customers.

The second-largest mobile company in Belize is SMART SPEEDNET, which offers much the same service as Digicell except that it uses the CDMA network spectrum. SMART began operating in March 2005 and is a private company. All its services are delivered over WiFi and air spectrum.

If you are planning to stay in Belize for a few days, you may activate international roaming on your mobile phone, but be aware that international call prices can be very high.

If you want to use your mobile phone in Belize, make sure it is unlocked and compatible with the country's telecommunication system. You can then buy a SIM card or purchase a number for BZ $45. You can purchase 'credit' for prepaid service at most stores.

Belize uses a standardised seven-digit phone numbering system. There are no city or area codes to dial from within Belize. To call Belize from another country, you must first dial the international access code (011 from the U.S., 00 from the U.K., Ireland, or New Zealand, or 0011 from Australia) followed by the country code (501).

To make international calls from Belize, first dial 00, followed by the country code, area code, and number. For example, to call the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., you would dial 00-1-202-588-7800.

For directory assistance within Belize, dial 113, and for international directory assistance, dial 115. For operator assistance, dial 115 for both local and international calls.

Toll-free numbers in Belize begin with 0800 or 800, but calling a 1-800 number in the U.S. from Belize is not toll-free and will cost the same as an overseas call.

Cellphones in Belize use both GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks. If your cellphone is on a GSM or CDMA system, and you have a world-capable multiband phone, you can make and receive calls across civilized areas around much of the globe.

Belize has the highest cellular phone and internet access rates in Central America, and the internet is generally slow and expensive.

International calls to and from Belize

Belize has a national telecommunications company, Belize Telemedia Limited, and several mobile phone companies providing good coverage. The country's telecommunications system is making progress toward being more developed, but there are still some remote, small villages, protected areas, and uninhabited areas with no cell phone coverage.

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. Cell plans in Belize are easy to understand and can be either postpaid or prepaid. The second-largest company is SMART SPEEDNET, a private company that offers much the same service as Digicell except that it uses the CDMA network spectrum.

If you are visiting Belize for a short time, you can use your hotel's phone. If you plan to stay longer, you can buy or rent a mobile phone or get a landline. You can purchase a local SIM card or buy a prepaid one from a local provider. To buy a SIM card from Digicell, you need to provide a current passport or a Belize Social Security Card. A non-Belizean resident must also produce evidence of intended Belizean residence for the next 12 months, and a deposit may be required.

To make an international call to Belize from the US or Canada, dial 011, the US or Canada exit code, followed by 501, the Belize country code, and then the seven-digit local number. For example, 011 + 501 + 2 + XXX + XXXX. To make an international call from Belize, first dial 00, then the country code, followed by the area code and number. For instance, to call the British Embassy in Washington, DC, from Belize, dial 00-1-202-588-7800.

Frequently asked questions