How to get internet in Egypt in your trip: rates, services and coverage
To have internet in Egypt you have several options: eSIM, prepaid SIM, wifi and roaming. At Roams we recommend Holafly eSIM, as it offers the best value for money in terms of service, price and support. On the other hand, prepaid SIMs can be problematic, and roaming is very expensive.
- · Internet in Egypt: alternatives to consider
- · eSIM Egypt: the best way to get internet in Egypt
- · How much is a SIM Card in Egypt: recommendations
- · Roaming in Egypt: an expensive option
- · Wifi in Egypt: the ultimate alternative
- · How is internet connected Egypt?: Issues to consider
- · Tips before you travel to Egypt
- · FAQs
Internet in Egypt: alternatives to consider
Egypt is one of the places you have to travel to at least once in your life. Its incredible historical culture deserves a good stay.
Therefore, you should take into account what internet you are going to have in Egypt. This way, you will be able to fully enjoy your trip if you choose an option that suits your needs.
Before we go into detail about each of the alternatives, here is a table of how much internet costs in Egypt:
| How much internet costs in Egypt? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Service | Price/Days | Data |
| Holafly eSIM for Egypt |
|
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| SIM Card in Egypt |
|
|
Wifi in Egypt:
|
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| Roaming in Egypt |
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|
eSIM Egypt: the best way to get internet in Egypt
If you want to have internet in Egypt during your trip, the best option is to get an eSIM. Both the reliability and the quality of service make this the perfect alternative when it comes to mobile data.
It's best to get an eSIM before you take off. Why? On the one hand, it is difficult to find shops that offer this service there, on the other hand, it can be difficult to find someone who speaks English to make the purchase.
You can overcome the language barrier with applications such as Google Translate, which incorporates more than 100 languages. In addition, you can use the "Text to Speech" function to let your mobile phone speak for you.
Within the eSIM market, there are two main companies: Holafly and Flexiroam. Both provide mobile data in Egypt, but we recommend Holafly. Why? Both its coverage and service-price ratio, together with its support in English, make it the best alternative.
However, before we go into detail, we show you a comparison table of service, price, days of duration and support between Holafly and Flexiroam.
| How much internet eSIMs cost in Egypt? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Companies | Data | Price/Days | Support |
| Holafly |
|
|
|
| Flexiroam |
|
|
|
If we only compare the price, Flexiroam offers a cheaper service. However, its mobile data in Egypt and service time are much more limited. All things considered, Holafly's eSIM is a much more cost-effective alternative.
Also, the security of being able to contact someone who speaks your native language in case of any service issues is great. Imagine being in the middle of Cairo and having to deal with customer service in Arabic…
Buy your eSIM for the Egypt with a 5% discount with the code ROAMS.
How much is a SIM Card in Egypt: recommendations
If your mobile phone does not support eSIMs, the alternative is to choose a prepaid SIM card in Egypt. With these you can also have mobile data in this country, although you should be very careful where you buy them.
Although cheap imitations in countries like Egypt are notorious, in this case you should be sure of the quality of the SIM Card. If you take the risk, you won't be the first tourist to be sold a SIM card with part of the data mobile used up and get an unpleasant surprise.
Above all, never buy a SIM Card outside airports or shopping centres. If you opt for this alternative, always do so in official establishments. This way, you can be sure that you get what you really paid for. Also, be wary of any place that gives you the SIM Card out of its original packaging.
Another disadvantage of SIM Cards is that if you intend to buy them at Cairo airport, your flight must arrive during the day. There is no 24-hour service there, and many travellers are in for a surprise.
If you arrive during business hours, be patient after your flight. The queues at the airport's official phone shops are notorious for the waiting time they entail.
Roaming in Egypt: an expensive option
You may have reached this point and want to know if you can activate roaming in Egypt with your usual carrier. The short answer is yes, you can. The main telephone operators in UK offer their customers roaming rates in Egypt.
However, it is best not to take the short answer, as roaming costs in Egypt are very high with all carriers. Depending on your phone and internet provider, you will have different options. You could expect to be charged £6-£13 per MB.
The most popular carriers with roaming in Egypt:
Wifi in Egypt: the ultimate alternative
Although portable wifi is popular in some countries, the service-to-price ratio in Egypt on the internet is not very cost-effective. For example, the company Wifivox rents out its portable router for £10 a day. With it, you get 2GB of mobile data per day.
Another drawback of pocket wifi is the possibility of losing it or having it break down. In these cases, you will be obliged to pay compensation to the company, which will further increase your costs for mobile data in Egypt.
If you are hiring a portable wifi service to get internet in Egypt, check with the company in question about the costs of loss or damage. They don't usually incorporate anti-theft or damage insurance, but you may be able to pay a full or daily add-on for this extra service.
Relying on public wifi in Egypt is probably the worst decision you could make before making this trip. Connections in hotels are slow, as are those in public establishments. In addition, open networks are very insecure against data theft.
Roams strongly advises against using public or open wifi networks in Egypt. Sensitive data such as access to your bank account, email passwords and more can easily be exposed.
How is internet connected Egypt?: Issues to consider
When planning your trip... Have you thought about what the internet is like in Egypt? Coverage in Egypt is limited to say the least. While you'll have no problem connecting to a 4G network in Cairo, forget about connection in the desert.
Except for very specific towns in the desert, such as Mut or Siwa, you will only have full mobile data access in Egypt when visiting the main cities. In this respect, Alexandria, the entire coastline up to Matrouh and the Gulf of Suez area have access to 4G.
On the other hand, it's entirely understandable that in the Libyan desert areas you won't have internet access. After all, although there are plenty of excursions in the dunes, there is not a lot of day-to-day activity in this area.
All operators do not have the same coverage, and sometimes there are people who are left without internet while their companions are able to use it. eSIM Holafly for Egypt, on the other hand, is covered by the country's largest operator. As a result, tourist who use it have the best internet access in Egypt.
Buy your eSIM for the Egypt with a 5% discount with the code ROAMS.
Tips before you travel to Egypt
You must have a passport valid for at least six months. You must also have a tourist visa valid for up to 30 days.
On the other hand, in principle, there are no vaccinations required for a British tourist to travel to Egypt. However, if you have any doubts, you can always make an appointment at an International Vaccination Centre and bring your vaccination book with you.
Always bear in mind that when going on excursions throughout the country, follow the routes marked out by the agencies. Avoid, as far as possible, travelling off the beaten track on roads other than the main ones.
Finally, there are some apps you should have on your phone that you may find useful:
- TripAdvisor
- Booking
- Google Translator
- Uber
If you can extend your trip and visit other destinations such as Morocco, you need to know how to get internet in Marrakech, here are some interesting destinations you can check out:
FAQs
What is the internet signal like in Egypt?
Major cities such as Cairo and Alexandria have 4G network access. However, wifi coverage in Egypt is very poor, no matter where you look. Even high-end hotels have a very slow connection. On the other hand, the service is free for all guests. For this reason, a mobile data plan in Egypt is almost essential.
Which card to use in Egypt?
Both Visa and Mastercard work perfectly well in Egypt. Please note that, depending on the amount of the purchase, you may be charged a commission fee. You can check with your bank in such cases. It is always advisable to pay in cash, so as not to be too affected by the exchange rate between the Egyptian Pound and the Euro.
What happens if I activate data roaming in Egypt?
If you have not signed up for a Holafly eSIM, prepaid SIM or portable wifi, when you activate data roaming in Egypt, your carrier will apply the roaming rates in question. It is recommended that you consider other options before using this service, as it is significantly more expensive and less cost-effective than most alternatives.
How do I use my mobile phone in Egypt without roaming?
To use your mobile phone in Egypt without roaming you have several options: eSIM, prepaid SIM and portable wifi. With any of these, you will be able to access the internet without depending on roaming with your operator. We at Roams recommend the Holafly eSIM.
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