Papua New Guinea: Best Tourist eSIMs Reviewed (2024)

Papua New Guinea is probably not the most popular travel destination in Oceania, but it still has a lot to offer.

Especially when it is “an affordable” country for travel (for regional standards).

But before you share your colorful Papua New Guinea experiences online, be aware that international roaming can be expensive.

Travel eSIMs can be a much more affordable way to stay connected, even in Papua New Guinea.

How much will a travel eSIM for Papua New Guinea cost?

You can get a travel eSIM for Papua New Guinea for as little as 9.50 USD for 1 GB data (7 days) and up to 79 USD for 15 GB, from Airalo & Holafly.

While this may sound a bit pricey but international roaming will be even more expensive.

So yeah, these travel eSIMs can be worth it.

In this guide, I will go over the travel eSIM options offered by Airalo & Holafly. Let's go.

Original publication: 27^th of September 2022. Last updated: 8^th of March 2024.

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Table of Contents

In a Hurry? A Quick Introduction

I will write about two eSIM options in Papua New Guinea (and explain why they are included).

But if you want to quickly check out what the best eSIMs are for Papua New Guinea without my analysis and explanations, here is an overview of the eSIMs covered in this guide:

• Airalo's Papua New Guinea Sivoli Mobile eSIM with four choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (cheapest)
• Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM with six choices between 2.5 GB and 15 GB (most generous data plan – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off)

Note: the promo codes mentioned above can also be used for regional and global eSIMs (they are not restricted to country-specific eSIMs only). In other news, the eSIM providers are in alphabetical order per grouping (Papua New Guinea-only, regional & global) – not in order of preference (you would have to read the complete guide to find out which eSIMs I love the most for Papua New Guinea 😜).

Let's truly get started, shall we?

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eSIMs offered by the Papuan Mobile Operators

Suppose you want to get the best service and reception available in Papua New Guinea.

In that case, it is better to get a SIM card or travel eSIM from the local mobile operators, which in this case would be the Papuan ones.

Not only will you not have to deal with latency, but you also get a higher priority on the network because you are a direct customer of the mobile operator instead of a roamer.

And with most travel eSIMs, you are roaming on the network(s) of the local mobile operator(s).

But that is not always the case – the slow speeds part, that is.

Some mobile operators throttle the speeds of prepaid customers because they want more people to get a postpaid plan.

Unfortunately, travelers cannot get postpaid plans – so one way to avoid throttling is by using a travel eSIM.

Yes – travel eSIMs sometimes have faster speeds than native prepaid customers because of throttling.

You have two options for getting an eSIM for your trip to Papua New Guinea: Airalo (with Sivoli Mobile) & Holafly.

One of the main advantages of getting a travel eSIM for Papua New Guinea is that you can set up the eSIM before arriving in Papua New Guinea and activate it upon landing.

I have to mention that travel eSIMs will be more expensive than local eSIMs and SIM cards, but they are more convenient.

Moreover, I have plenty of experience with the eSIMs from Airalo & Holafly, so I can vouch for them – so can many Phone Travel Wiz readers!

So let's go over what the travel eSIMs offer for Papua New Guinea!

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Airalo eSIMs for Papua New Guinea (Sivoli Mobile)

If you have read any of my eSIM or SIM card buying guides before, then you know I am a big fan of Airalo.

Not only does Airalo have eSIMs for most countries (around 190 countries) of any eSIM platform, but they are also often one of the cheapest while offering fantastic service in terms of speeds and reception.

That is because Airalo usually partners up with the mobile operator with the best coverage, the fastest speeds, both, or even multiple operators.

That way, you get the best bang for your buck, I have to say.

In the case of Papua New Guinea, the Sivoli Mobile uses the Digicel Papua New Guinea network – the best mobile operator in terms of coverage.

So, which Papua New Guinea Sivoli Mobile eSIMs are available? You have this four option:

1. Papua New Guinea/Sivoli Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 8 USD
2. Papua New Guinea/Sivoli Mobile 2 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 15 USD
3. Papua New Guinea/Sivoli Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 19.50 USD
4. Papua New Guinea/Sivoli Mobile 5 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 30 USD

Now, you may think this is a sad selection or that 1 GB of data is insufficient.

Both points are true… I agree – but you can make unlimited top-ups with the Sivoli Mobile eSIM through the Airalo website or apps.

So if you need 5 GB of data, you can purchase the Sivoli Mobile 1 GB eSIM and get four 1 GB top-ups.

Yes, it is a bit inconvenient for now; Airalo may offer 3 GB, 5 GB & 10 GB plans with a 30-day validity for Papua New Guinea soon, as it did for many other countries it supports.

The Airalo links will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.

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Airalo Sivoli Mobile eSIM Pros

Are there any (more) reasons why you should get the Sivoli Mobile eSIM? Yes, there are:

• You can activate your Sivoli Mobile eSIM as soon as you land in Papua New Guinea
• You get full (up to 4G/LTE) access to Digicel Papua New Guinea's network
• Sivoli Mobile eSIMs are affordable (especially compared to roaming)
• SIM card registration is not a thing you have to worry about with the Sivoli Mobile eSIM, saving you time
• Multiple top-ups can be purchased when you are out of data or when your initial plan expires easily on the Airalo site or apps

I could list many more pros, but these are the major ones.

Unfortunately, there are some cons to be aware of.

Airalo Sivoli Mobile eSIM Cons

Why should you not get the Sivoli Mobile eSIM?

• The Papuan mobile operators, including Digicel Papua New Guinea itself, have much more generous data allowances
• There is only one plan available, the 1 GB one, meaning you have to keep topping up when you are out of data instead of buying a larger data plan from the start
• While you get access to Digicel Papua New Guinea's network, your speeds may not be as fast as going with Digicel Papua New Guinea itself because you will be roaming on their networks (and not be a native customer)
• There is no 5G NR access with the Sivoli Mobile eSIM (yet)
• You cannot call or text with the Sivoli Mobile eSIM (nor can you receive them – you get no (local) phone number)

Airalo Sivoli Mobile eSIM Overall Thoughts

The Sivoli Mobile eSIM is a convenient eSIM that can be purchased before going to Papua New Guinea and can be activated upon arriving.

You get access to one of Papua New Guinea's best networks with the Sivoli Mobile eSIM.

The main flaw, for now, is that you have to purchase multiple top-ups if you need more data than just 1 GB.

While getting a top-up is straightforward, some tourists, like myself, prefer to just buy one big data plan so that you do not have to worry about data allowances.

But besides that flaw, the Sivoli Mobile eSIM is fine.

Remember, you cannot call or text with the Sivoli Mobile eSIM, as it is a data-only eSIM.

Consider a Papuan SIM card if calling and texting is important, but you have to deal with the (e)SIM (card) registration laws.

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Holafly eSIMs for Papua New Guinea

My relationship with Holafly is quite funny.

I knew they existed when they offered travel SIM cards for the Spanish market only.

Then they pivoted to the global market, still offering travel SIM cards.

Eventually, they started offering travel eSIMs for the Spanish market only again before going global.

There are many travel eSIM providers nowadays – new ones pop up every week like mushrooms, so I did not bat an eye.

Until they did something revolutionary.

In 2022, Holafly started offering unlimited data plans for its eSIMs.

And these unlimited data eSIMs can be used in various Asian countries, almost all European Union member states (except for Liechtenstein) & a few other countries, like Canada and the United States.

Unfortunately, unlimited data eSIMs are not available in Papua New Guinea… yet.

I say yet because Holafly's goal is to offer unlimited data plans for every country it covers: 100+ countries.

And I can tell you that I get positive emails multiple times a week from Phone Travel Wiz readers that have used the unlimited data plans in East- and Southeast Asia, Europe & North America; they love these eSIMs.

For now, you have only six Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIMs (which uses the Digicel Papua New Guinea network (as well) – the mobile operator with the best coverage, by the way):

1. Papua New Guinea 2.5 GB eSIM for 5 days, costing 29 USD
2. Papua New Guinea 3.5 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 37 USD
3. Papua New Guinea 5 GB eSIM for 10 days, costing 44 USD
4. Papua New Guinea 7.5 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 47 USD
5. Papua New Guinea 10 GB eSIM for 20 days, costing 59 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
6. Papua New Guinea 15 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 79 USD

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in December based on data up to the 30^th of December (2023 data only).

Not much choice, as you can see.

Even better, you can get 5% off each and any Holafly purchase (so it does not have to be the Papua New Guinea eSIM) when you use code PHONETRAVELWIZ – fantastic, right?

Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM Pros

So, why should you get the Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM? Well, because of the following:

• Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIMs are affordable compared to roaming
• You get full (up to 4G/LTE) access to Digicel Papua New Guinea's network – the best in Papua New Guinea
• Unlike going with Digicel Papua New Guinea directly, you do not have to worry about SIM card registration because it is unnecessary
• You can activate your Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM as soon as you land in Papua New Guinea
• The Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM offers the most data

Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM Cons

Why should you not get the Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM?

• You cannot call or text with the Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM (nor can you receive them – you get no (local) phone number)
• Papuan mobile operators, including Digicel Papua New Guinea, have much more generous data allowances
• While you get full (4G/LTE) access to Digicel Papua New Guinea's network, your speeds may not be as fast as going with Digicel Papua New Guinea directly because you will be roaming on their networks (and not be a native customer)
• You cannot top up your Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM – you would have to buy another eSIM if you need more data
• There is no 5G NR access with the Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM (yet)

Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM Overall Thoughts

While you have only one option for the Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM, it is the most generous eSIM (in terms of data) in this guide.

And the price for the Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM is low compared to expensive Pay As You Go roaming rates for Papua New Guinea.

But it still is not cheap.

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Overview of the Best eSIMs for Papua New Guinea (Airalo vs. Holafly)

In this guide, I went over various eSIMs Papua New Guinea.

Below is an overview of my recommendation order:

• Airalo's Papua New Guinea Sivoli Mobile eSIM (cheapest)
• Holafly Papua New Guinea eSIM (most generous data plan)

Remember to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for Holafly eSIMs – a code is not necessary for Airalo eSIM purchases.

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Buying a SIM Card in Papua New Guinea

Do these eSIMs not sound appealing to you, or does your phone not support eSIMs (but still thought this guide was insightful enough that you read it until the end)?

Consider getting a Papuan SIM card instead – that linked guide is the most extensive SIM card buying guide for Papua New Guinea on the web, packed with insightful information and tips.