International Roaming
International Roaming is readily available in Belize.
Belize Telemedia Limited are referred to locally as BTL. They are the operators of the DigiCell cellular system in Belize and they recommend for you to contact your Service Provider to confirm if they have roaming agreements with DigiCell in Belize and to enquire with regards to their rates. Rates and billing for International Roaming are completed between you and your home mobile service provider.
DigiCell Belize operates in the GSM 1900 MHz system with coverage that expands to the major populated areas in the country. If your cell phone does not support the 1900 band, then you can rent a phone from the Ventura Yacht Agency. They also have SIM cards available.
DigiCell Belize has roaming agreements with about 100 other GSM operators worldwide. Here is a listing of some of the more popular countries.
USA UK FRANCE SPAIN AUSTRALIA CANADA
AT&T Orange Bouygues TME Optus Rogers
Sprint Vodafone SFR Amena Vodfone Fido Solutions Inc
MCI Hutchison
CBW T-Mobile
T-Mobile O2 UK
Cingular
Nextel
Coverage
Digicell operates in the GSM 1900 band with coverage that expands to the major populated areas in the country. Belize Telecommunication Limited (BTL) is always improving geographical coverage of its network. Except for a few spots coverage is available right along the coast extending to the reef eastwards from the north to about half way down the country. Down in the far south it reaches only upto Snake Caye, which is about 20 miles east of Punta Gorda, it doesn’t reach all the way out to the reef. I have seen yachts have access from the western side of Turneffe using an external antenna.
SIMM cards and phone rentals.
Other ways of getting onto the local network are
- Buying a SIMM card and using an unlocked cellular phone you may have aboard. New SIMM cards cost US$25.00 each. Besides that we also normally have used SiMM cards at US$15.00/ea. The used SIMM come pre-programmed with usefull numbers and we also buy back SIMM cards.
- Renting a cellular phone. Ventura has cellulars available for rental at US$35.00/week. Our phones are pre-programmed with both emergency and other usefull local numbers. Email us at ventura@btl.net to put in a request.
Charging system and rates.
In Belize ONLY the person placing the call is charged. There is NO charge to the person receiving a call.
Here is a link to Belize’s local provider website http://www.digicell.bz/your-account.html where their rates for local calls can be found and additional information regarding the local system.
Charges for sending short messages locally are – link for more details is http://www.digicell.bz/sms-bundles-premier.html
- US$0.125 per single message
- US$2.81 for a bundle of 100 messages
- US$4.50 for a bundle of 200 messages
- US$5.63 for a bundle of 300 messages
- US$8.44 for a bundle of 750 messages
Rates for international calls to a couple of popular countries are:
Full listing of charges for international phone calls can be found at http://www.belizetelemedia.net/New-International-Rates/rates-sheet.pdf
Adding value to your account.
OK I guess now you need to add credit. Credit can be purchased at just about any store. Oh, but we are at sea and there is no store around, not a problem you always have the option of emailing Ventura and requesting for credit to be put onto your phone via direct top up. The charges will then be added to your account.
Useful short codes and numbers for the local cellular system is
- Press *00 for Customer Service
- Press *10 to Recharge your Account
- Press *20 for your account balance
- Press *30 for the details on your last five calls
- Press *767 for purchases bundles of SMS (messages)
- 501 is the country code for Belize
- 10-10-199 + country code + number – cheapest way to make international phone calls
- Dial 113 for directory assistance
- Dial 115 for operator’s assistance
Recommendations.
DigiCell SMS bundle is the most affordable means on communication on the cellular phone, BUT only when purchased in bundles. To purchase SMS bundles dial *767. You pay less than the regular SMS price and can save as much as 68%. If you don’t purchase SMS by the bundle the regular price per SMS is US$0.125 per SMS. You can purchase as many SMS bundles as you want. The value will then be deducted from the credit on your phone.
Placing your order.
{form 5}