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The Cayman Islands are expensive. It is an expensive travel destination, and the cost of living is one of the highest in the world too. These high prices also apply to SIM cards and mobile data. You can get a Flow Cayman SIM card for 11 KYD (13.20 USD), while Digicel Cayman sells them for 10 KYD (12 USD). A data plan with 2 GB of data valid for 7 days will set you back 14.99 KYD (18 USD). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQJJcZGrcMY I can tell you already that this is pretty expensive, even by Caribbean standards. But getting yourself a Cayman SIM card and a local plan will be much cheaper than international roaming in the Cayman Islands. In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in the Cayman Islands. Let's go. Original publication: 11th of March 2020. Last updated: 20th of November 2020. Table of Contents Can You Buy a SIM Card in the Cayman Islands? Everyone living in or visiting the Cayman Islands can buy a SIM card from Flow Cayman or Digicel Cayman without restrictions. You do need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the Cayman Islands, and your phone needs to be unlocked (SIM-lock free). Can You Use Your Phone in the Cayman Islands You need a GSM compatible phone to use your device in the Cayman Islands. Depending on where you bought your phone and its specifications, you may only be able to go with Flow Cayman, Digicel Cayman, or either operator. The telecom world is split into three regions - the ITU regions. Countries in a particular region usually use the same frequencies for seamless connections. The Americas (North-, Central-, and South America + the Caribbean - ITU Region 2) use different frequencies than used in Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe, and Oceania (ITU regions 1 and 3). Often, you will hear American Frequencies and European frequencies. By Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa) – Own work, using this file by Denelson83, CC BY-SA 2.5 Unlike most Caribbean nations that stick with traditional American region frequencies, European frequencies are also used in the Cayman Islands. However, you need to know which operator supports American frequencies and which one supports European frequencies. If you bought your phone in the Americas (ITU region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you would want to go with Flow Cayman. They support traditional American frequencies on 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE, meaning that you can take full advantage of their network. If you purchased your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU regions 1 & 3) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you would want to go with Digicel Cayman. They support traditional European frequencies on 3G and 4G/LTE (2G is on standard Amerian frequencies). Suppose you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support. In that case, you can go with either Flow Cayman or Digicel Cayman, as your phone will support both American and European frequencies, even on 4G/LTE. Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in the Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands have two mobile operators: Flow CaymanDigicel Cayman Both operators omit "Islands" from their official operating names. The following frequencies are used in the Cayman Islands: 2G: 850 MHz & 1900 MHz 3G: 850 MHz & 2100 MHz4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 17), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 1900 MHz (Band 2) Note: Digicel Cayman does not have a 2G network anymore. Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above). If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know. Best SIM Card in the Cayman Islands If you want to buy a SIM card in the Cayman Islands, I recommend going with either Flow or Digicel. Both providers have good coverage and speeds throughout the Cayman Islands while offering a variety of packages. ALSO: Want to get an excel sheet of the best SIM cards of over 230+ destinations around the world, updated monthly? Sign up for the Phone Travel Wiz Newsletter and get the excel sheet for FREE! SIM Card Registration the Cayman Islands You do not have to register your SIM card with your personal information (such as your passport information) when buying a SIM card in the Cayman Islands. Cayman Islands Internet Prices & Insights When traveling around the Caribbean, you will probably notice that things are much more expensive than back home. Which makes sense - all of the nations and territories that make up the Caribbean are islands, which are always pricier. Because of their remote locations, getting internet to those places is more expensive than countries on land. But the Cayman Islands takes it to another level. The Cayman Islands is the most expensive territory for mobile data. The average price for 1 GB of data in the Cayman Islands is 23.05 USD, which is more than triple the Caribbean average of 7.19 USD. The world average is 5.03 USD. That is all according to Cable.co.uk. Mobile internet is so expensive that it makes the Cayman Islands the 9th most expensive place to get 1 GB of data. Does this mean you should not buy a SIM card when traveling in the Cayman Islands? Not at all. The standard international roaming rates many mobile operators around the world would charge you for roaming in the Cayman Islands will be even more criminal than what the local operators will charge you. Unlike some other nations and territories in the top 10 most expensive places to get mobile data, the network quality and internet speeds are quite good in the Cayman Islands. You can expect coverage almost everywhere with both Flow Cayman and Digicel Cayman. Moreover, internet speeds are fast too. Download speeds up to 100 Mbps have been reported in the territory. However, all of that will come at a steep cost. Currency in the Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands uses the Cayman Island Dollar with the symbol KYD (which will be used in this guide). However, prices may sometimes be listed as just $ or CI$. KYD is pegged 1:1:20 to the US Dollar (USD), meaning that 1 KYD is 1.20 USD, 10 KYD is 12 USD, and 100 KYD is 120 USD. The other way around would mean 1 USD is 0.83 KYD, 10 USD is 8.30 KYD, and 100 USD is 83 KYD. If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Transferwise Borderless Account and Debit Card. Their fees are MUCH lower than banks, and credit card companies charge you (and Transferwise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks). I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Euros, my main currency, when using Transferwise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards. Open a Transferwise account FREE! Cayman Islands Prepaid SIM Cards Below, I will guide you through the Caymanian operators, Flow Cayman & Digicel Cayman, and go through: Background informationMobile coverageSIM card types, prices, and availabilityRecharge/top-up informationCombo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs) With that being said, let’s see what the Cayman Islands have to offer to us. Flow Cayman Flow Cayman, just Flow, is the original telecom operator in the Cayman Islands. They had a monopoly until Digicel barged into their backyard. This is what you will learn about Flow: * Coverage* How to Get a Flow SIM Card & SIM Card Price* Topping-Up Options & Methods* Plans* APN SettingsClick on the links above to jump to the section you are interested in.Jump to Digicel Flow Cayman Coverage Flow has excellent coverage in the Cayman Islands. Flow claims to cover 100% of the Cayman Islands, which is a bold claim to make, but it is not an unrealistic one. Flow does cover all the three islands (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman) extensively. Getting a Flow Cayman SIM Card & Price Flow SIM cards are sold for 11 KYD in Flow stores on Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman. You can manage your Flow account by dialing *129#. If you have forgotten your Flow phone number, dial *555#. Topping Up Your Flow Cayman SIM Card Flow top-up cards are sold in values of 5 KYD to 100 KYD in Flow stores and other establishments, such as supermarkets, gas stations, and corner shops. Online top-ups are available with (international) debit and credit cards. To redeem your Flow top-up voucher, dial *129# and follow the instructions. Dial *120# to check your Flow balance. Flow Cayman Internet Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers Flow offers two types of plans: the Prepaid Combo Plans and the Data Only Plans. Flow Cayman Prepaid Combo Plans The Prepaid Combo Plans are combo bundles with data and minutes. The following Prepaid Combo Plans are available: PriceDataLocal MinutesValidityActivation Code9.99 KYD1 GB 250 minutes 1 day *140*8#19.99 KYD2 GB500 minutes 7 days *140*16#49.99 KYD 2 GB 1000 minutes 30 days *140*50# You can also activate a plan by dialing *129#. To check your data balance, dial *140*895#. Flow Cayman Data Only Plans The Data Only Plans are data-only bundles. The following Data Only Plans are available: PriceDataValidityActivation Code2.99 KYD250 MB1 day *146*50#7.99 KYD1 GB 3 days*146*250#14.99 KYD 2 GB 7 days *146*1007#29.99 KYD 1 GB 30 days *146*1030#29.99 KYD 5 GB15 days *146*2000#39.99 KYD 5 GB30 days *146*4000#49.99 KYD 15 GB 30 days *146*10000# You can also activate a plan by dialing *129#. To check your data balance, dial *140*895#. Flow Cayman APN Settings Name: FlowAPN: ppinternet Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched. Digicel Cayman Digicel Cayman, just Digicel, is the other operator in the Cayman Islands. This is what you will learn about Digicel: * Coverage* How to Get a Digicel SIM Card & SIM Card Price* Topping-Up Options & Methods* Plans* APN SettingsClick on the links above to jump to the section you are interested in.Jump to Flow Digicel Cayman Coverage Digicel has extensive coverage in the Cayman Islands. Unfortunately, Digicel has no (official) coverage map (anymore), nor could a reputable map be found. Digicel's coverage is on par with Flow's, so you can check Flow's coverage map to get an idea of what to expect with Digicel in the Cayman Islands. Getting a Digicel Cayman SIM Card & Price Digicel SIM cards can be purchased for 10 KYD in Digicel stores. You may have to dial *122# to activate your SIM card if it does not instantly after inserting it into your phone. Topping Up Your Digicel Cayman SIM Card Digicel refill cards are sold in denominations from 5 KYD to 100 KYD in Digicel stores and many other stores in the Cayman Islands, such as convenience stores, grocery stores, and bars. You can also top-up online with (international) debit and credit cards. To redeem your Digicel voucher code, dial *135# and follow the instructions. You can also use shortcode *125# to top-up. To check your balance, dial *135# or *120#. Digicel Cayman Internet Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers Digicel has the Prime Bundles and the Data Plans. Digicel Cayman Prime Bundles Digicel has the new Prime Bundles, which are bundles with Any Use Data, unlimited on-net minutes, off-net minutes, and data allowances for select apps. The following Prime Bundles are available: PriceBundleAny Use DataListen More (Music) DataListen More (Radio) DataWatch More DataPlay More DataShare More DataKnow More DataStore More DataOn-Net MinutesOff-Net MinutesValidity4 KYD1 Day Digicel Prime Bundle1 GB 1 GB1 GB1 GB1 GB1 GB1 GB1 GBUnlimitedN/A 1 day 15 KYD 7 Day Digicel Brime Bundle 1 GB 7 GB7 GB7 GB7 GB7 GB7 GB7 GBUnlimited50 off-net minutes7 days 35 KYD30 Day Digicel Prime Bundle 3 GB30 GB 30 GB 30 GB 30 GB 30 GB 30 GB 30 GB UnlimitedN/A 30 days 55 KYD 30 Day Plus Digicel Prime Bundle 6 GB 45 GB45 GB45 GB45 GB45 GB45 GB45 GBUnlimited300 off-net minutes30 days You also get unlimited Do More data, which is for the MyDigicel App Prime Bundles can be activated on the MyDigicel app or by dialing *135#. You can download any Prime Bundle app by visiting the links below: Listen More (Music) with D'MusicListen More (Radio) with GoLoudWatch More with PlayGoPlay More with Sports MaxShare More with BipKnow More with LoopStore More with Billo Digicel Cayman Data Plans Digicel also has the Data Plans, which are data-only plans without data allowances for Digicel apps. The following Data Plans are available, which can be purchased through online top-up. PricePlanDataValidity13 USDMedium Data Plan (1 GB)1 GB7 days 32 USDLarge Data Plan (2 GB)2 GB30 days The prices are indeed listed in USD. Digicel Cayman APN Settings Name: DigicelAPN: internet.ky Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched. Other Ways to Stay Connected When Traveling in the Cayman Islands Besides getting a local SIM card in the Cayman Islands, there are other ways to get online while traveling on the island. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhLfhARWaJ0 However, these methods may be more expensive than getting a SIM card from the two local operators. International Roaming International roaming is the most convenient way to stay connected when traveling in other countries because you do not have to buy a new SIM card, have to deal with SIM card registration regulations, nor have multiple phone numbers to deal with. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X7xGPry-Tc However, international roaming has proven to be expensive in many cases, especially compared to buying local SIM cards. That is why many travelers are not fond of international roaming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNXUQnX3Uww International roaming has its pros and cons. However, it is important to know how it works. This in-depth guide explains it all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSKtHeE0rVg Find out whether your mobile operator has attractive roaming rates for the Cayman Islands here. Using an International SIM Card or Travel SIM Card International SIM cards are SIM cards made for the traveler in mind. Using them is often cheaper than international roaming. However, they are almost always more expensive than using a local SIM card. There are many other advantages and disadvantages of getting international SIM cards, which you can learn about here. Using a Mobile Hotspot (Pocket WIFI) Mobile hotspots, or pocket WIFI, are small devices that connect to the local operators of the country you are visiting. Mobile hotspots are ideal for families or those traveling in a large group, as they allow you to connect multiple devices to one hotspot without the need of each traveler having to buy a SIM card. You can either buy a mobile hotspot or rent one. Using Free WIFI Networks Using free WIFI connections is the cheapest way to stay connected because they are free. The major downside of trying to use WIFI hotspots is that you will have to locate them, and they are not available on every corner in the Cayman Islands Make sure to protect your internet traffic with a VPN so that hackers cannot steal your personal data. The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in the Cayman Islands Getting a SIM card from either Flow or Digicel would be your only when considering a Cayman SIM card. Be sure to explore the roaming options your provider offers you, as they may offer free or cheap roaming bundles. Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other Caribbean Countries Visiting other countries in the Caribbean? Check out my Caribbean SIM card buying guide, covering other Caribbean nations, such as: AnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArubaBahamasBarbadosBonaireBritish Virgin IslandsCayman IslandsCubaCuraçao Dominican RepublicGrenadaGuadeloupeHaitiJamaicaMartiniqueMontserratPuerto RicoSaba DominicaSaint BarthelemySaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSint EustatiusSint MaartenTrinidad and TobagoTurks and Caicos Islands Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world. Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do: Check Out My Resource Page Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience? Check out my travel resources page for the best companies to use when you travel! Save money with international SIM cards, on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises, and accommodation. Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too! Start Your Own Online Business - Make Money While Traveling Do you want to learn how I started an online business that allows me to generate income while traveling? In my starting an online business guide, I tell you which tools, services, and products I have for this site and my YouTube channel. If I can start a business about something I am passionate about (phone travel), then you can do it too! Learn About Your Phone Travel Options You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally. Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you. Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out! Sign Up for the Phone Travel Wiz Newsletter Sign up for my newsletter: Get an excel sheet of the best SIM cards of over 230+ destinations around the world, updated monthly! Moreover, I send you many tips and tricks on how to save money while traveling every now and then. Let's Be Social Did you know that I have a YouTube channel covering everything you need to know about traveling with your phone? A lot of useful videos are uploaded multiple times a week, and you do not want to miss out on them! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJrV0ZZBPv8 Also, be sure to follow me on Pinterest and repin some pins! Learn More About Who Adu Actually Is Who is the guy behind Phone Travel Wiz? Well, find out on the Ernest Adu about page!

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