The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) – known for their marvelous beaches, which should be award-winning.
The white sand beaches and literal turquoise waters are just stunning.
It is also a popular destination for watersports activities, like surfing, fishing & scuba diving.
If you prefer to stay out of the water, you watch the whales swimming around while you enjoy a cocktail on the beach.
If the beach life is not for you – worry not. You can still visit plenty of attractions, such as the Grand Turk Lighthouse, the city centers in Providenciales and Grace Bay, or the Her Majesty's Prison.
In short, there is no reason to be bored when visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands.
You probably even want to make your friends at home jealous share your travels with your friends online, which you should.
But do know that international roaming can be expensive.
And the Turks and Caicos Islands are not known for being a cheap travel destination.
Luckily, you can buy local SIM cards to enjoy local rates.
And luckily for you, travelers can also buy Turks and Caicos SIM cards.
You can get a Turks and Caicos SIM card for 5 USD from Flow and 10 USD from Digicel in their stores (+7IM MOTORS on Providenciales for Digicel only). They are not sold at Providenciales International Airport (PLS) or Grand Turk-JAGS McCartney International Airport (GDT).
Okay, SIM cards and data plans are not super cheap either here.
However, these prices are still much better than the international roaming rates your mobile operator would charge you for roaming in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
So, we know the SIM card prices. What else do you need to know? Much more.
In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Let's do this.
Original publication: 12th of March 2020. Last updated: 30th of May 2023.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in the Turks and Caicos Islands?
You can buy a Turks and Caicos SIM card from Digicel or Flow as a tourist. There is nothing preventing travelers from buying a SIM card in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.
Moreover, your phone has to support the frequencies used in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Furthermore, your phone needs to be unlocked (SIM-lock free) to use a Turks and Caicos SIM card.
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in the Turks and Caicos Islands?
You can get a Turks and Caicos SIM card in the official stores of Digicel (+7IM MOTORS on Providenciales) and Flow. They are not available at Providenciales International Airport (PLS) or Grand Turk-JAGS McCartney International Airport (GDT).
You can expect to pay the following for Turks and Caicos SIM cards:
- Digicel Turks and Caicos: 10 USD
- Flow Turks and Caicos: 5 USD
Can You Use Your Phone in the Turks and Caicos Islands?
The Turks and Caicos Islands use GSM for their cellular communications, meaning that you need a GSM-capable phone to use your phone in the country. Fortunately, there is about a 99% chance your phone 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 3 ITU Regions, you only need to know these two terms: American frequencies and European frequencies.
Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & 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– & South America + the Caribbean), ITU Region 2, use American frequencies, which are different from the European frequencies.
The Turks and Caicos Islands use a mix of American frequencies and European frequencies for 2G and 3G, depending on the mobile operator. 4G/LTE is exclusively on American 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 want to go with Flow Turks and Caicos.
It supports traditional American frequencies on 2G, 3G & 4G/LTE, meaning that you can take full advantage of its 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 want to go with Digicel Turks and Caicos.
It supports traditional European frequencies on 2G and 3G, but you will not be able to use its 4G/LTE network.
Suppose you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support. In that case, you can go with any mobile operator, as your phone will support both American frequencies and European frequencies, even on 4G/LTE.
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands have two mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- Digicel Turks and Caicos
- Flow Turks and Caicos
The following frequencies are used in the Turks and Caicos Islands:
- 2G: 850 MHz, 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 850 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 13 & Band 17), 1700 MHz (Band 4) & 1900 MHz (Band 2)
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in the Turks and Caicos, check out this page by Kimovil or this one by Will My Phone Work (outdated, unfortunately, but extremely user-friendly – useful for phones launched in or before 2019. It does not check for 5G NR compatibility).
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.
VoLTE & VoWiFi in the Turks and Caicos Islands
Both VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) and VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFi calling) are not offered by the mobile operators in the Turks and Caicos Islands (yet).
This means that when you make a call, your phone will downgrade to 3G (or 2G when 3G is not available) instead of staying connected to 4G/LTE.
This is also why you often cannot use mobile while calling if not connected to WiFi.
VoWiFi is, as the name implies, calling on a WiFi connection as opposed to on a cellular network.
5G NR in the Turks and Caicos Islands
5G NR is not available in the Turks and Caicos Islands as of 2022, and the Turks and Caicos government have not made any indications of when they will auction 5G licenses.
Best SIM Card in the Turks and Caicos Islands
If you want to buy the best SIM card in the Turks and Caicos Islands, I recommend going with Digicel. It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. Moreover, Digicel also has attractive plans (Prime Bundles) with dedicated data allowances for Prime apps, TikTok & YouTube (up to 35 GB/app).
Best eSIM in the Turks and Caicos Islands
Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM (to prepaid customers) in the Turks and Caicos Islands yet.
Note that the Turks and Caicos Island mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
However, you can also get a travel eSIM from various eSIM providers.
The list below is not exhaustive – many more providers have eSIMs for Turks and Caicos Islands.
But these are the ones I have tried and had pleasant experiences with.
Moreover, they are reasonably priced, which I find very important (you will not see me recommending an eSIM I would not buy myself).
So here are the five best eSIMs for Turks and Caicos Islands:
- Airalo Turks and Caicos Islands Tuca Mobile eSIM with one 1 GB option (cheapest <7 GB)
- Holafly Turks and Caicos Islands eSIM with two choices between 3 GB and 15 GB (cheapest 7 GB >)
- Holafly Caribbean eSIM (covers 16 Caribbean countries with a generous allowance)
- Airalo Island Hopper eSIM with one 1 GB option (covers 24 Caribbean countries at higher prices and just 1 GB of data)
- Nomad Global eSIM with three choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (covers 110 countries, including 12 in the Caribbean, at high prices)
Because this is the SIM card buying guide for Turks and Caicos Islands, I will not spend too much time about travel eSIMs here and throughout this guide (but I will still do here and there).
If you want to learn more about the best eSIMs for Turks and Caicos Islands, you better check out my Turks & Caicos Islands eSIM buying guide.
It is as helpful and comprehensive as this guide but about eSIMs instead 😜.
SIM Card Registration in the Turks and Caicos Islands
SIM card registration with your passport information is mandatory in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It will be done at the point of sale.
Turks and Caicos Islands Mobile Internet Prices & Insights
Mobile data used to be close to unaffordable in the Caribbean.
The costs were high, and the quality of service was poor.
However, things have improved significantly over the years.
Not only has the network quality improved, but the cost of mobile data has gone down by a lot.
The same can be said about the Turks and Caicos Islands. However, the costs are still on the higher end.
The average price for 1 GB of data in the Turks and Caicos Islands is 8.00 USD, far above the Caribbean average of 4.44 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.
The thing is, the Turks and Caicos Islands still have one of the highest mobile data rates in the Caribbean.
But, when we compare 2019's figures to present-day figures, the average cost of 1 GB of data has decreased by 65.4%.
While there is not much information about mobile data speeds in the country because not many people do speed tests there, I can mention something about speeds.
In the Caribbean, you can expect your speeds to range between 10 Mbps and 25 Mbps.
With average SIM cards, great nationwide coverage, decent mobile download speeds, but incredibly high mobile data rates, you should have a smooth network experience in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Currency in the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands use the US Dollar with the symbol USD (which will be used throughout this guide).
Prices in the Turks and Caicos Islands are listed in just $.
For up-to-date USD:your currency (let's say Euro) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
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 Australian Dollars and Euros, my main currencies, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards.
Turks and Caicos Islands Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through Digicel Turks and Caicos & Flow Turks and Caicos, and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices & availability
- Recharge/top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans & special packs (such as social media packs)
With that being said, let’s see what the Turks and Caicos Islands have to offer to us.
Digicel Turks and Caicos (TCI)
Digicel Turks and Caicos (TCI), just Digicel, is one of the two mobile operators in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Digicel, as a company, is active in many other Caribbean nations, Central America & Oceania.
Digicel uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 17) & 1700 MHz (Band 4)
This is what you will learn about Digicel:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Digicel SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Digicel Turks and Caicos (TCI)
Digicel has the best coverage in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
It also has solid 4G/LTE reception.
Below is Digicel's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Digicel Turks and Caicos (TCI)
You can buy a Digicel SIM Card for 10 USD in Digicel stores and 7IM MOTORS (Providenciales). They are not sold at Providenciales International Airport (PLS) or Grand Turk-JAGS McCartney International Airport (GDT).
You may have to dial *122# to activate your Digicel SIM card if your SIM card does not work upon purchase.
Dial *129# to see your Digicel phone number.
Dial *135# to access the Digicel menu.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Digicel has no eSIMs.
Note that the Turks and Caicos Island mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Turks and Caicos Islands (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Turks and Caicos Islands (Tuca Mobile) eSIM from Airalo with (1 GB of data for 7 days – top-ups are available).
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
You can also get Turks and Caicos Islands eSIMs from Nomad (from 1 GB/7 days to 5 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad reviews
Holafly recently introduced an eSIM for the Caribbean, covering 16 countries with 6 GB of data for 15 days.
The Holafly Carribean eSIM can be used in the following 16 countries:
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Aruba
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- French Guiana
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
Remember to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
TIP: check out my Best Turks and Caicos Island eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for the Turks and Caicos Island.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Digicel Turks and Caicos (TCI)
Digicel top-up vouchers are sold in Digicel stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Digicel SIM card, dial *125# and follow the instructions.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial *124# to check your Digicel balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Digicel app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Digicel Turks and Caicos (TCI)
Digicel has only one data-featured prepaid plan: New Prime Ultra Bundles (combo). It includes data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
I will list all the prices in XCD (East Caribbean Dollar).
To convert XCD to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
The following Prepaid New Prime Ultra Bundles are available, which can be activated by dialing *135#:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data 1 | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net Minutes | USA/Canada Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.50 USD | 1 Day Digicel Prime Bundle | 23.5 GB | 2 GB/app | Unlimited | 20 minutes | N/A | N/A | 1 day |
| 27 USD | 7 Day Digicel Prime Bundle | 125 GB | 12 GB/app | Unlimited | 60 minutes | N/A | Unlimited | 7 days |
| 46 USD | 30 Day Digicel Prime Bundle | 308 GB | 30 GB/app | Unlimited | 300 minutes | 45 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 72 USD | 30 Day Digicel Prime Bundle | 358 GB | 35 GB/app | Unlimited | 500 minutes | 60 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days |
1 for YouTube, TiktTok, Disney+, Apple Music/Spotify, SportsMax, BiP, Loop, GoLoud, Social Media & Storage (so you would have the said data allowance per app, aka 1 GB for BiP, 1 GB for GoLoud, 1 GB for Loop, etc., if the data allowance says “1 GB/app”)
Prepaid Prime Bundles auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, dial *135#.
APN/Internet Settings – Digicel Turks and Caicos (TCI)
- Name: Digicel
- APN: internet.tc
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Flow Turks and Caicos (TCI)
Flow Turks and Caicos (TCI), just Flow, is one of the two mobile operators in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Flow is a brand by Cable & Wireless used throughout the Caribbean.
Flow uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 850 MHz
- 3G: 850 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 13) & 1900 MHz (Band 2)
This is what you will learn about Flow:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Flow SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plan & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Flow Turks and Caicos (TCI)
Flow as extensive coverage throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.
However, its 4G/LTE availability is lacking compared to Digicel Turks and Caicos (TCI).
Below is Flow's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Flow Turks and Caicos (TCI)
You can get a Flow SIM card for 5 USD with 5 USD credit in Flow stores. They are not sold at Providenciales International Airport (PLS) or Grand Turk-JAGS McCartney International Airport (GDT).
Dial *129# to access the Flow menu.
Dial *555# to see your Flow phone number.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Flow has no eSIMs.
Note that the Turks and Caicos Island mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Turks and Caicos Islands (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Turks and Caicos Islands (Tuca Mobile) eSIM from Airalo with (1 GB of data for 7 days – top-ups are available).
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
You can also get Turks and Caicos Islands eSIMs from Nomad (from 1 GB/7 days to 5 GB/30 days).
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps) and get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off (even on top of current promotions)!
- Check out my Nomad reviews
Holafly recently introduced an eSIM for the Caribbean, covering 16 countries with 6 GB of data for 15 days.
The Holafly Carribean eSIM can be used in the following 16 countries:
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Aruba
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- French Guiana
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
Remember to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
TIP: check out my Best Turks and Caicos Island eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for the Turks and Caicos Island.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Flow Turks and Caicos (TCI)
Flow top-up vouchers are sold in Flow stores and from Recharge Partners, including grocery stores, gas stations & bars.
To top up your Flow SIM card, dial *129# and follow the instructions.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial *120# to check your Flow balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Flow app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Flow Turks and Caicos (TCI)
Flow has only one data-featured prepaid plan: Always On (combo). It includes data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
I will list all the prices in USD.
To convert USD to your currency (let's say EUR – Euro) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
The following Always On Plans are available, which you can activate by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data 1, 2 | On-Net Minutes | Local SMS 3 | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 USD | 1 Day Always On | 1 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 25 SMS | 1 day | *244*0# |
| 14 USD | 3 Day Always On | 1.5 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 200 SMS | 3 days | *244*1# |
| 25 USD | 7 Day Always On | 4 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 350 SMS | 7 days | *244*2# |
| 40 USD | 30 Day Always On | 5 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 500 SMS | 30 days | *244*3# |
1 Snapchat, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook & Twitter texting
2 +unlimited WhatsApp and Facebook data
3 to Flow Caribbean (Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago & the Turks and Caicos Islands) Canada, the United Kingdom (fixed) & the United States
APN/Internet Settings – Flow Turks and Caicos
- Name: Flow Internet
- APN: ppinternet
Note: do not use just “internet” as a prepaid customer. That APN is reserved for postpaid customers. Leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in the Turks and Caicos Islands
Getting a SIM card from Digicel would do you well when considering a Turks and Caicos SIM card.
Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other American Countries
Visiting other countries in the Americas? Check out my Caribbean SIM card buying guide, covering other American 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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