When traveling, It is essential for tourists to stay connected and have a mobile phone to keep people in their lives updated. With social media and a growing variety of networking sites from Skype, Facebook, Whatsapp, to Viber and WeChat, the possibility of staying disconnected is next to impossible.
For anyone planning to travel to the Philippines, it is based on actual fact that the country is known as the “text” capital of the world. Filipinos are always updated with current events and trends. This is made possible due to the mobile data services that many Filipinos avail of, whether it is prepaid or postpaid. Telecommunication companies in the Philippines consistently work towards providing every tech-savvy Filipino with the best and most efficient service possible. Phone providers are information generally people need to know about the Philippines
The Telecommunication Industry in the Philippines
Tourists who have intentions of visiting the Philippines, should only know two words about the telecommunication industry; Globe and Smart. Globe and Smart are the only telecommunication companies in the Philippines with Tattoo, Touch Mobile (™), ABS-CBN Mobile and Cherry Mobile owned by Globe, while Smart owning the flagship SIM card, Smart Bro, Sun Cellular and Talk ‘n Text.
The largest mobile operator in the Philippines was said to be the Philippine Long Distance Telecommunication’s (PLDT) mobile unit, Smart, up until the 2016 reports surfaced, placing Globe Telecom as the leading telecommunication company in the Philippines. Throughout 2016, Globe Telecom was able to garner 66.6 million subscribers compared to Smart with only 62.1 million users.
What is the best prepaid SIM card for every availing traveler?
A good prepaid SIM for travelers who want to purchase one for their visit to the Philippines should take note of the following:
- LTE support
- Affordability
- Minimum of 1 GB of mobile data
- At least one year validity
- Wide coverage availability
The Traveler’s Perk
The good thing about traveling to the Philippines is the convenience and availability of every traveler’s essentials. This of course includes a prepaid SIM that tourists and visitors may avail in every corner and airport in the Philippines.
Besides this, Globe and Smart both have a traveler’s prepaid SIM promo free for tourists and foreign visitors exploring the Philippines. The table below will provide instructions on how to get this free traveler’s SIM card and ultimately, help travelers and tourists make a clear decision on what the two have to offer and if it meets the criteria mentioned above.
| Globe | Smart | |
| Speed | LTE compatibility with 4G | LTE compatibility with 4G |
| Price |
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| Storage | Toursists may subscribe to Travel Surf with a variety of options and depending on the duration of the traveler’s stay.
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| Coverage |
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| Venue for Purchase | Any convenient store or retail shop in the Philippines. The following are also the airports where every tourist can purchase a prepaid SIM.
| Any convenient store or retail shop in the Philippines. The following are also the airports where every tourist can purchase a prepaid SIM.
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| Additional Features |
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I myself is a Globe prepaid SIM user that avails of promos and discounts by Globe which actually comes out cheaper compared to availing of a post paid plan. One promo that I made by dialing *143# is the GOTSCOMBODD70 promo via the Globe prepaid GoSAKTO. This promo enables usersto have unlimited texting, 1GB of mobile data for internet and app usage valid for 7 days just for PHP 70. It can be done simply by texting GOTSCOMBODD70 to 8080 in order to avail of the budget promo practical for users on budget and those who don’t really like or need to call people as often.
Traveling in the Philippines and staying connected to locals and loved ones abroad is made easier with what Globe and Smart has to offer. Their prepaid SIM cards hold a variety of features that will help maximize every user’s usage during their brief stay. Not only is it free, it is easily available upon arrival at any airport, welcoming every traveler and tourist with a treat.
