To make traveling around Georgia as comfortable as possible, you need to think through some things in advance, one of which is mobile communications.
The life of a modern person is a continuous exchange of information, so having a mobile phone has become an urgent necessity, especially when traveling. After all, by phone you can contact your homeland, arrange a meeting with local friends or relatives, find out about available excursions, go online, etc.
Are you going to Georgia? Take advantage of our services and we will provide you with a free mobile phone for the entire trip, and free mobile Internet in our car!
In Georgia, everything is fine with mobile communications. Almost everywhere there is at least third generation coverage. Sometimes it's surprising. For example, you are going to the Alazani Valley to harvest grapes - far, far away. Where the asphalt ends there is no advertising, and the only restaurants are roadside ones. And there is one salad in it. And not Caesar or Greek, but just cucumbers and tomatoes with onion rings. You reach into your pocket for your phone, and there – bam “3G”. Or even "N". In general, all Georgian operators have switched to “4G” - but only in large cities.
It’s better to get a local number: call a taxi driver, hotel, guesthouse or hostel. Or making a splash on Instagram and Facebook is also a necessary thing. With a SIM card in roaming, this will be a very expensive thing to do. So it’s better to buy a card from a Georgian operator and forget about this issue.
Are you going to Georgia? Write to [email protected] - we will create the optimal travel route for you. Or take one of our signature tours.
What mobile operators are there in Georgia?
Attention: prices are provided as of February 2020. You will find out where to buy a SIM card in Tbilisi.
When purchasing a local SIM card, they will explain to you what the tariffs are, how to buy traffic and use it.
Reference! Most purchased SIM cards are valid for 3-6 months from the date of the last top-up. Therefore, if you are leaving the country, you don’t have to worry about storing them.
in
Georgia are Magti, Silknet (formerly Geocell) and Beeline .
Option number 4. Free Internet in Georgia for tourists
Hotels and hostels, cafes and restaurants, shopping and entertainment centers and casinos, even some parks and buses generously distribute free Wi-Fi. True, it does not work unstably: sometimes it’s quite fast, sometimes it’s slow, and sometimes it disappears altogether. In some establishments, access to the Internet may be closed - ask for the password.
Photo: tysontravels.wordpress.com
You can get Wi-Fi in the middle of the street in large cities. So in Tbilisi, catch the municipal network “TbilisiLovesYou” (connection without registration) - for now it is concentrated in the center, but is gradually expanding its area of action. In Batumi, free Wi-Fi is on the Boulevard.
Maps of Internet points: wifimap.io, wifispc.com, wiman.me.
Magti
Official website: https://www.magticom.ge/
On the map you can find all SIM card sales offices. The most important thing is that it can be purchased at Tbilisi airport. The counter is open 24/7.
The cost of a sim card is from 2 to 5 lari.
Favorable rates:
- “Unlimited” package – 60 GEL for 30 days. Unlimited SMS, conversation minutes and megabytes.
- Package “Martivi 25” – 25 GEL for 30 days. Unlimited SMS, conversation minutes and 1000 MB.
You can also not include the package, but simply purchase internet:
- 1000 MB – 5 GEL for 30 days.
- 3000 MB – 9 GEL for 30 days.
- 5000 MB – 12 GEL for 30 days.
- 20,000 MB – 30 GEL for 30 days.
- Unlimited – 150 GEL for 30 days.
You can take advantage of promotions:
- Unlimited Internet for a week – 5 GEL for 7 days.
- Unlimited for a month – 60 GEL for 30 days.
Advice from the editor! Magti would be a great choice. The operator has good coverage throughout the country, so if you are planning a long trip, then choose it. 4G LTE is available in large cities.
Option No. 3. Travelsim / Toursim / tourist SIM card
These are all names for the same type of communication. The principle is that you buy a SIM card from a virtual GSM operator, top it up, and you can go online and make calls at a set rate almost anywhere in the world. This is an excellent choice for those who travel frequently and to different countries. If you go on vacation for a week once a year, purchasing a tourist SIM card is unlikely to justify itself. In other cases, you should definitely consider it as an alternative to roaming and local operators.
Photo: alibaba.com
Popular tourist SIM cards
Dreamsim . Cost: 10 €. Delivery to Kyiv, Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2 days 5 €. See the website for delivery times and prices to other cities or contact the support service in the app (they respond within a few minutes). Tariffs in Georgia: 0.015 €/MB (or 15.36 €/GB), calls 0.25 €/min to Russia, 0.3 €/min to Ukraine and Georgia. There are no subscription fees or traffic limits.
FreeRoaming . Cost: 1990 rubles (about 24 €), delivery throughout Russia is free. Tariffs in Georgia: per day 1 € per 15 minutes, 1.2 € per 100 MB.
TravelSIM . Cost: from $6, sold in stores in Ukraine. Tariffs: several different offers, from 2 cents per Megabyte, from 75 cents for the first minute of conversation. The most profitable way to use the Internet is TravelSiM Direct.
Silknet (Geocell)
The current Silknet, formerly Geocell (Geocell, Geocell) is one of the most popular operators in Georgia.
Official website : https://geocell.ge/
Sales offices are indicated on the map. The number can be purchased at the airport. Open 24/7.
The cost of a sim card is from 2 to 5 lari.
Main favorable tariffs for tourists :
- “Tourist” package – 20 GEL for 15 days. International calls – 30 minutes. Calls to all mobile networks are unlimited. Internet – 2 GB.
- “Meti” package (unlimited +) – 50 GEL for 30 days (or 35 if there is a promotion). Unlimited minutes and SMS, 7 GB of internet.
Reference! At bus stops in Tbilisi you can connect to free Wi-Fi - Tbilisi loves you. Also in many Tbilisi parks you can find a bench from Silknet, where you can recharge your phone and use free internet.
Now let's look at individual Internet packages for 30 days:
- 750 MB – 4 GEL;
- 1.5 GB – 6 GEL;
- 3 GB – 9 GEL;
- 5 GB – 12 GEL;
- 8 GB – 15 GEL;
- 20 GB – 30 GEL.
Advice from the editor! Silknet is an excellent operator with a wide coverage area. You can safely take it if you are satisfied with the prices. The sales office will always give you the information you need. Local residents advise using this particular operator, as it has the fastest Internet speed.
Option #2. Roaming from home country operators
This option is much more expensive. But it’s more convenient - roaming is usually activated automatically, without special activation, topping up your account is more common, and it’s easier to resolve problems with your “native” operator. Such amenities are advisable if you come to Georgia for a short time, or if you do not plan to often use the services of your mobile operator, for example, public Wi-Fi will be enough.
Photo: Jan Vašek
Tariffs and roaming conditions in Georgia from Ukrainian operators
Vodafone . In addition to the basic package of services, it offers several tariff plans (for 3 and 7 days). Basic tariff with daily payment: 15 minutes of calls costs 35 UAH, 100 MB + unlimited messaging (Viber, WhatsApp, Skype) - 40 UAH. When abroad, you need to call the customer service consultation center at: +380500400111 - free of charge.
Lifecell . There are several tariff plans, including an Internet package and a puzzle tariff, in which you can independently choose the number of days of use, Megabytes/minutes and pay once. In a standard package with a daily subscription fee: 10 minutes of calls cost 25 UAH, 100 MB - 30 UAH. Consultation center: +38 063 5433 111 - free.
Roaming Kyivstar in Georgia . There is only one tariff plan - a basic package of services with daily payment: 15 minutes of calls costs 30 UAH, 100 MB - 35 UAH. The subscription fee is charged daily at the time of the first call/access to the Internet. Contact the help desk: dial *105*466# and call, a confirmation will come and a consultant will soon call you back from the number +380674660466 - free of charge.
Photo: uip.me
Tariffs and roaming conditions in Georgia from Russian operators
Beeline . Offers basic and several additional services. Standard tariffs for international roaming with daily payment: 20 min calls - 200 rubles, 50 MB - 250 rubles. There is also a package with unlimited Internet for 350 rubles per day and a tariff with per-minute charging for incoming and outgoing. Contact the support service while abroad by calling: +7 495 7972727.
MTS . The daily roaming fee depends on your current tariff. In addition, several types of packages are offered, of which the most profitable are: “Zabugorische”, for 390 rubles/day and “BIT” with unlimited Internet - from 450 rubles/day. Helpdesk: +7 495 766 0166 - free.
MegaFon roaming in Georgia . The subscription fee per day of use is 269 rubles, which includes 1 GB of Internet and 60 minutes for incoming calls and calls to Russia. Contact center: +7 926 111 05 00 - for MegaFon subscribers of the Capital Branch, calls are free when traveling around Russia and the world.
Tele2 . Basic conditions: 1 min - 35 rubles, 1 MB - 50 rubles. Unlimited Internet - 350 rubles/day. Help desk number: +7 951 520 0611 - free.
Yota . The roaming package provides: 30 minutes of calls for 39 rubles/day, 1.6 rubles/MB (with the paid basic package of services, and if it is not connected, then the Internet costs 490 rubles/MB). Subscriber support via a mobile application, website or SMS with a question to number 0999.
Photo: ferra.ru
To avoid unexpected roaming charges, check:
- Redirection - all types of it need to be disabled
- Data transfer - also needs to be turned off and turned on only when the Internet is needed
- Mobile apps and software settings - disable automatic updates
Beeline
This operator provides the most favorable rates. But we recommend using it only in Tbilisi. If you are going to travel around the country, it is better to choose from the first two options.
Official website: https://www.beeline.ge/ru/
See the location of offices around the country on the map. There is a sales office at Tbilisi airport. Open 10:00 – 17:00.
The cost of a sim card is from 2 to 5 lari.
Favorable rates:
- Red Max – 25 GEL for 30 days. Internet – 3 GB. Unlimited minutes on the Beeline network. Unlimited minutes to other mobile operators. Unlimited SMS.
- Tourist – 20 GEL for 14 days. International calls – 50 min. Calls to all mobile networks and SMS are unlimited. Internet – 2 GB.
Internet packages for 30 days:
- 2 GB – 5 GEL;
- 4 GB – 9 GEL;
- 10 GB – 15 GEL;
- 30 GB – 25 GEL.
Advice from the editor! This operator has really good tariffs. But the coating is lame. Sometimes communication is lost even in Tbilisi itself. The choice is yours.
Option #1. Buy a SIM card from a Georgian mobile operator
Internet and mobile communications in Georgia offer reasonable rates, so it makes sense to buy a local SIM card, even if you’re visiting for a couple of weeks. It is especially relevant for those who need to frequently call local people; they do not like to call back to foreign numbers. And also the SIM card of the Georgian operator will become a lifesaver for those traveling to wild lands, since coverage covers even high mountainous areas.
By the way, if you are going on vacation away from large cities (in Svaneti, Kakheti, Adjara, etc.), do not hesitate to check with the operator how well the network “catch” there. After all, health and even life can depend on the presence of a connection, if you are among those who enjoy wild or extreme recreation.
Photo: forbes.ge
Note! There are no nano-SIMs in starter packages, and cutting to this format can only be done in operator offices or mobile phone stores.
The cost of starter packages is up to 5 lari (up to $1.7), depending on the tariff and account balance. Some SIM cards are given out for free, but you need to activate them yourself.
Popular mobile operators in Georgia
Magti is the largest network in Georgia, famous for the best coverage, and a leader in 4G/LTE quality. Therefore, Magti is recommended for brave mountain conquerors and explorers of the outback. However, this operator's prices are higher than others.
Photo: patioart.com.ge
It is most convenient for tourists to separately order packages with the required number of minutes for calls and the amount of Internet. Or take the “Simple” tariff of 5 GEL (about $1.7) for 7 days, which includes 1 GB of Internet and unlimited on-network calls and SMS.
Geocell - in terms of communication quality, it is approximately at the level of Magti. In the summer, in popular tourist places, promoters give out travel cards for free, and you can also take them in some hotels.
Photo: klubik.ge
The operator has a special offer for guests of the country - the “Tourist pack All inclusive” tariff. The package price is 20 lari (about $6.8) for 15 days, it includes 2 GB of internet, 30 minutes of international calls and unlimited calls within Georgia.
Beeline is famous for its low tariffs, but the coverage is noticeably worse than that of previous operators.
Photo: itel.am
Pay attention to the “Tourist” package - 20 lari (about 6.8 $) for 14 days. It includes 2 GB of Internet, 50 minutes of international calls, unlimited SMS and calls within Georgia.
Where can I buy?
- In operators' offices.
- At Tbilisi or Kutaisi international airport.
- In stores that sell mobile phones.
How to buy a SIM card in Georgia?
- To purchase a starter package, you need a foreign passport, on which the number is registered.
- Ask your consultant to set up the service answering machine menu in Russian. And also, without leaving the office, make sure that the mobile Internet is working, and if not, ask for help to activate it.
- You can top up the card with cash at the place of purchase and through a payment terminal (a commission is charged, on average 0.5%). Also, replenishment, changing the tariff and ordering additional services are available on the operator’s websites or through their mobile application.
- If you are going away from civilization, make sure you have money in your account in advance: either top up your SIM card in the city, or buy a top-up card and take it with you.
- The validity period of the card without replenishment is limited - 2-6 months, depending on the tariff, after which it is irrevocably deactivated.
How to save traffic?
- Turn off automatic app updates in the App Store/Google Play settings.
- Manually configure application access to the Internet. Disable access to those programs that you can do without during your trip.
- Do not forget to turn off mobile Internet in places where there is access to Wi-Fi.
- Before your trip, download off-line maps (Maps.me, Google.Maps), since online navigation uses too much traffic.
How to call Georgia from Russia
Georgia's mobile code is 995. It must be entered along with the phone number when calling home from abroad. To call a tourist on a mobile phone, instead of the usual number eight, dial +995. Let's look at a simple example: +995991456 1904.
To call a landline phone, you need to go to an international line. To make a call, first dial eight, wait for the confirmation tone, then enter the country code 10 and the prefix of the desired locality, and at the end the phone number. How to call Georgia from Russia on a landline? Example of a call to Batumi: 8 (wait for dial tone) -10-995-222 (area code) 1234567 (phone number).
Mobile phone account top-up
PAYBOX
Express Pay / TBC Pay
Topping up your account in Batumi is not difficult, you can find terminals at every step, mainly there are three types of terminals, yellow PAYBOX
, blue
TBC PAY
and orange
EXPRESS PAY
, the first and second have Russian, all three have English, so it won’t be difficult to figure it out.
The minimum replenishment amount is 0.50 GEL
.
➜ Prices in Batumi
➜ Prices in Georgia
Additional Information
If you cannot use the services yourself for some reason, it is recommended to use the help desk by number. You can also go to the company office with your passport. Services in the country are provided by Beeline. If, when moving, the operator did not change automatically, you need to select the network yourself in the device settings.
Before leaving, it is advisable to have a sufficient amount of money on your balance. You can check using the combination *105#. The operation is carried out free of charge.
Magti app
You can download the application on both iOS and Android. You will need it to check the available balance and/or top up an empty SIM card that you managed to get at the airport.
Connecting the Internet yourself
Scenario 1. Empty SIM card, not previously used. Having a SIM card, you can download the mobile application, log into it using your phone number (Georgian) and select a package of Internet and/or calls with SMS. You can pay by credit card.
Scenario 2. Old SIM card, previously used. In this case, firstly, the SIM card itself needs to be topped up periodically - this way it will not be blocked. Thus, after replenishment, a positive balance is formed, which should be used for payment. To do this, you need to dial *111# “call”, then alternately “1” “1” “1”, selecting the desired Internet package. Secondly, immediately before payment, you should independently check the relevance of this combination on the official Magti website.
How to activate MTS roaming in Georgia
Not everyone knows how to activate the MTS international roaming service. To do this, the user is required to fulfill several conditions:
- You must use the company's services for at least six months. All subscribers who have been served for less than this period cannot use this service.
- The turnover of funds for the specified period must be at least 650 rubles.
- To connect, you can use a special USSD command. To do this, dial *111*2192# on your device and call.
- If the user has the opportunity, he can use self-service in his MTS personal account. Register and log in, this will help you connect the necessary services yourself.
- You can also make a call to the subscriber service center or to the operator’s number, and the company’s employees will independently activate the required service.
- Activation occurs quite quickly, after which it is worth topping up your account with a sufficient amount of funds to use the connection during the trip.
- If a subscriber requires assistance during a trip, he can use the international telephone number +7 495 766 0166, which he can simply call.
