Niue – the country with the second smallest population in Oceania ahead of Tokelau.
It is also known for being the largest upraised coral atoll in the world.
Most who visit Niue are doing so to wind down. Relaxing at the beach, chilling at the resort, or sleep all day.
Well, the latter would be some expensive sleep because Niue is not a cheap travel destination.
With plenty of things to see and do, there is a lot to share with your friends and online.
However, it is not possible to roam internationally in Niue – the local operator, Telecom Niue, has no roaming agreements with foreign operators.
Yes, that also applies to mobile operators from New Zealand.
And you should be happy with that. International roaming can be expensive in many cases, so Telecom Niue is doing you a favor to some extent.
In many cases, local SIM cards, like a Niuean one, are affordable and cost nothing compared to standard roaming rates.
So how much do SIM cards cost in Niue?
You can get a regular and a Visitor SIM Telecom Niue SIM card for 10 NZD (7 USD) in their store in Alofi South or Niue/Hanan International Airport. 1 GB valid for 60 days will cost you 12 NZD (8.45 USD).
Those prices are not too bad – it could be worse in the region. Especially because Telecom Niue has a monopoly on telecommunications on the island.
Even then, there are many things to explore about SIM cards in Niue.
In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Niue. Let's do this.
Original publication: 20th of January 2020. Last updated: 31st of October 2021.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Niue?
Anyone is allowed to buy a Niuean SIM card, including tourists and visitors.
Be aware that you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in Niue).
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Niue?
You can get a Niuean SIM card in Telecom Niue stores. They can be found in Alofi South (Commercial Centre – open daily) and Niue International Airport (Hanan International Airport – open on Plane Days).
Plane days are the days when Air New Zealand, the only airline to serve Niue, flies to Niue International Airport. Normally, this is twice a week.
You can expect to pay the following for Niuean SIM cards:
- Niue Telecom: 10 NZD
The following operators also have SIM cards targeting tourists:
- Niue Telecom: 10 NZD
Can You Use Your Phone in Niue?
Niue uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in Niue However, there is a 99% chance your phone supports GSM (if your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSM).
Besides that, you need to be aware of the ITU regions to determine whether your phone will work in other parts of the world.
Although there are three ITU regions, you only need to know these two terms: American Frequencies and European Frequencies.
Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe, and Oceania (ITU Regions 1 & 3) typically use European Frequencies, meaning phones bought in those regions can be used in countries using European Frequencies without issues.
The Americas (North-, Central, and South America + the Caribbean), ITU Region 2, use American Frequencies, which are different from the European Frequencies.
Niue uses European Frequencies for 2G and 4G/LTE – 3G is not available in Niue.
For 4G/LTE, Niue uses a low-band frequency that is both an American Frequency and European Frequency (700 MHz on Band 28). 700 MHz on Band 28 is used in some countries in Central- and South America, Europe, and Oceania. 700 MHz on Band 12 or 13 are typical Bands for American Frequencies.
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, then you can get a SIM card from Telecom Niue and use 2G and 4G/LTE. However, do note that 2G cannot be used for mobile data.
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, then you can get a SIM card from Telecom Niue and only use 4G/LTE on 700 MHz (Band 28).
ou will not have any fallback to 2G because that is on a traditional European Frequency.
If your phone does not support the right frequencies or Bands, then you can rent a Mifi device (mobile router) from Telecom Niue. It will cost 100 NZD, of which 50 NZD is a refundable deposit.
You can connect up to 10 devices to the mobile hotspot.
If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in Niue without (major) issues – also on 4G/LTE.
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Niue
Niue has one mobile network operator:
- Telecom Niue
The following frequencies are used in Niue:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: N/A
- 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 28)
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in Niue, check out this page by Will My Phone Work (may be outdated or inaccurate at times).
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.
5G NR in Niue
5G NR is not available in Niue as of 2021, and the Niuean government has not made any indications of when they will auction 5G NR licenses.
Best SIM Card in Niue
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Niue, Niue Telecom is your only option (it is the only mobile operator in the country).
SIM Card Registration in Niue
SIM card registration, with the use of your personal information (such as your passport), is not required when buying a SIM card in Niue.
Niue Internet Prices & Insights
Mobile data can be incredibly cheap or crazy expensive in Oceania. This is due to the nature of Pacific Nations – remote islands scattered in the South Pacific Ocean.
Because of this remoteness, and often the lack of competition, data in Pacific nations can be more expensive than in other regions.
The same applies to Niue – the cost of mobile data is not so cheap.
So how much does mobile data cost in Niue?
The average price for 1 GB of data in Niue is 7.37 USD, more than the Oceanian average of 5.51 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.
The cost of mobile data will only go down with the country being linked to the Manatua One Polynesia Fiber Cable – the first submarine cable connected to the Cook Islands and Niue.
But for now, things are a bit pricey.
When talking about internet speeds, they are still slow in Niue. However, that should improve over time.
Mobile coverage is decent, but there is still room for improvement.
Either way, you should have a decent network experience in Niue.
Currency in Niue
Niue uses the New Zealand Dollar with the symbol NZD (which will be used throughout this guide).
However, prices are often listed as just $ & NZ$. For example, 25 NZD = NZ$/$25.
For reference, below are some exchange rates between NZD and USD (US Dollars):
- 1 NZD = 0.70 USD
- 10 NZD = 6.95 USD
- 100 NZD = 69.35 USD
For up-to-date NZD:USD exchange rates, search NZD to USD on Google, or replace USD with the currency you use.
If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.
Their fees are MUCH lower than banks, and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).
I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Euros, my main currency, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards. Open a Wise account FREE!
Niuean Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through Niue Telecom and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices, and availability
- Recharge/top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs)
With that being said, let’s see what Niue has to offer to us.
Telecom Niue
Telecom Niue is the sole operator of Niue in terms of mobile, landline, and broadband services.
Although the operator became a private company in 2016, the government is the sole shareholder.
Telecom Niue uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: N/A
- 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 28)
This is what you will learn about Telecom Niue:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Telecom Niue SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Telecom Niue
Telecom Niue has decent coverage throughout the island.
You will have great reception around the roads.
Go more inland, and you will have to deal with 2G, which you cannot browse the web on, or have no coverage at all.
Below is Telecom Niue's coverage map. Note that the coverage portrayed in this map is worse than it actually is:
SIM Card Price – Telecom Niue
You can get a Telecom Niue SIM card for 10 NZD in the Telecom Niue store in the Commercial Centre in Alofi South or at Niue International Airports (Hanan International Airport).
Short-term visitors and tourists can also get a Telecom Niue Visitor Travel SIM card for 10 NZD.
This SIM card has a short validity, and there is a high probability Telecom Niue will only sell you this SIM card and not one of their regular SIM cards.
The Visitor SIM has a validity of up to 30 days and cannot be extended. However, it is often only valid for 7 or 14 days.
Suppose you are staying in Niue for a prolonged period. In that case, you may be able to convince the staff to sell you a regular SIM card with longer validity.
Telecom Niue SIM cards get deactivated if there has been no activity for 6 months (no top-up for 6 months or no activity for 6 months).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Telecom Niue
You can recharge your Telecom Niue SIM card in the Telecom Niue store (Commercial Centre, South Alofi) or the airport booth (if it is a Plane Day – a day when an Air New Zealand arrives in Niue). It is also possible to top-up online, on the phone by calling 015, or with the Telecom Niue app (Android/iOS).
Each top-up is valid for 30 days.
You can check your balance by calling 015.
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Telecom Niue
Telecom has four data-featured plans, which are:
- Pre Paid Mobile Bundle (combo)
- Visitor Data + Voice + SMS (combo for Visitor SIM)
- Data Only Plans (data-only)
- Visitor Data Plan (data-only for Visitor SIM)
All Niue Telecom plans can be activated in the Telecom Niue store/booth, online, on the phone (call 015), or on the app.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Pre Paid Mobile Bundle Plans – Telecom Niue
The Pre Paid Mobile Bundle Plans are combo plans with data, minutes, and SMS.
The following Pre Paid Mobile Bundle Plans can be purchased:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 NZD | Lite | 512 MB | 200 minutes | 100 SMS | 60 days |
| 52 NZD | Classic | 3 GB | 500 minutes | 250 SMS | 60 days |
| 104 NZD | Heavy | 10 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 60 days |
Visitor Data + Voice + SMS – Telecom Niue
The Visitor Data + Voice + SMS plans are combo bundles with data, minutes, and SMS and are exclusive to the Visitor SIM.
These Visitor Data + Voice + SMS plans are available:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local & International Minutes | Local & International SMS 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 NZD | Visitor 7 Day | 2 GB | 30 minutes | 30 SMS | 7 days |
| 73 NZD | Visitor 14 Day | 4 GB | 40 minutes | 40 SMS | 14 days |
1 local use and to Australia & New Zealand
Data Only Plans – Telecom Niue
The Data Only Plans are data-only bundles.
You can pick one of the following Data Only Plans:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 NZD | Quick Bytes | 250 MB | 1 day |
| 6 NZD | Night Owl | 1 GB | 1 night (between 22:00 – 6:00) |
| 12 NZD | Big Byte | 1 GB | 60 days |
| 32 NZD | Data 1 | 3 GB | 60 days |
| 52 NZD | Data 2 | 7 GB | 60 days |
| 78 NZD | Data 3 | 11 GB | 60 days |
| 104 NZD | Data 4 | 16 GB | 60 days |
| 112 NZD | 100 Night Surfer | 100 GB | 60 nights (between 22:00 – 6:00) |
| 160 NZD | Data 5 | 25 GB | 60 days |
Visitor Data Plan – Telecom Niue
The Visitor Data Plan is a data-only bundle exclusive to the Visitor SIM.
The following Visitor Data Plans are available:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 NZD | Visitor Quick | 250 MB | 1 day |
| 32 NZD | Data 1 | 3 GB | 30 days |
| 52 NZD | Data 2 | 7 GB | 30 days |
| 78 NZD | Data 3 | 11 GB | 30 days |
APN/Internet Settings – Telecom Niue
- Name: Telecom Niue-INTERNET
- APN: internet
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Other Ways to Stay Connected When Traveling in Niue
Getting a Niuean SIM card is the best way to stay connected in the country.
But sometimes, getting a local SIM card is not possible. Perhaps you have a SIM-lock phone.
The mobile operator you prefer to go with does not support the frequencies your phone uses, or you cannot be bothered to deal with SIM card registration in every country you are visiting.
Luckily, there are other ways to get online when in Niue.
However, these methods may be more expensive than getting a SIM card from the local mobile operator.
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.
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.
International roaming has its pros and cons. However, it is important to know how it works. This in-depth guide explains it all.
But… Niue Telecom has no international roaming agreement with any operator abroad, including operators from New Zealand.
So yeah, this is not an option.
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 Niue.
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 Niue
Getting a SIM card from Telecom Niue would be your only when considering a SIM card in Niue.
Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other Oceanian Countries
Visiting other countries in Oceania? Check out my Oceania SIM card buying guide, covering other Oceanian nations, such as:
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:
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