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Mobile Phone in South America ? Mobile Phone in South America ?
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Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 5 Nov 2005
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Mobile Phone in South America ?
Im planning a 6 month tour of South America and would like to take a mobile phone for emergencies etc.

Whats the best way to do this? Should i take a compatible phone with me and pay the horendous Uk bills or buy a "pay monthy" phone over there ?

Ed
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Old 9 Nov 2005
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I am not sure if South America uses the "GSM" mobile phone system, but if they do, your UK phone should be compatible. However, you should buy individual SIM cards locally for your phone in each country you are visiting as the roaming charges are high. The SIM cards should be pretty cheap to buy, maybe $5-20 per country. This is what I have done across Europe and now Asia and it works very well.

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Old 9 Nov 2005
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I can confirm that the GSM system is used just about everywhere, only problem is that you'll need a Tri-band phone. Some places, such as brazil ,have mobile networks run by european phone companies, using european GSm frequencies, alongside others using GSM 1900 like in the USA.
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Old 10 Nov 2005
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I can say from personal experience that even with my American cell phone "activated" to work in Mexico it didn't.
Unfortunately cell phone system coverage is still quite unreliable in So America, especially a few miles outside of the major cities and going from country to country. Too many headaches for a "foreign" cell phone.

Best reliable solution:
Rent an Iridium satellite phone (USD $40-50 / week). It works anywhere in the world, even in the most remote areas and there is no need to mess with chips and GSM and spotty cell phone coverage etc. By the time you figure in all the cell phone roaming charges, special fees etc, the cost of the calls may be a wash. And the best part: it works anywhere, not just in the cities like the regular cell-phone.

ride safe...


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  #5  
Old 3 Dec 2005
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I can guarantee that your European mobile phone WILL work in Brazil...The GSM system is well used there, and a SIM Card can be bought even in Supermarkets, it costs about U$ 10.00.

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