Cellular Roaming in Mexico

Using your cellular phone south of the border is quite different. This page reviews your options. Check new "Pay Per Call" options, below. Get Coverage Maps for the Mexican carriers. Get more Mexican roaming details on our Blog among our June, 2008 Entries (6/10-20/08) This page Updated 6/24/2008.

• Alltel They are the only US carrier that offers plans that include calls from both Mexico and Canada. The "North America Freedom" plans start at $60 and include 450 anytime minutes for calls made from any of the three North American countries, 1,000 Night & Weekend minutes, and Unlimited Mobile to Mobile calls (within the US only). You need to realize you are paying $20 more per month than a 'normal' calling plan, so the calls certainly aren't free. Another problem is that few people live within Alltel's service area. If you're clever, you might sign up for this plan from another area of the country, but you won't have a local number.Another challenge is that Alltel uses CDMA technology, so coverage for Alltel is limited to those areas mentioned above, in "Mexican Networks are Different." Alltel also cautions, you still need to watch for the Roaming indicator. We expect this plan to be discontinued, but could be "grandfathered." Alltel also offers a .59 per minute (plus Long Distance charges) roaming rate with the remainder if its plans.
  
• AT&T has a couple of advantages over the others. Since they use GSM technology, coverage is far more extensive throughout Mexico, however, they also charge users .99 per minute roaming charges. For an additional $6 per month you can subscribe to their "World Traveler" service which enables you to make and receive calls in Mexico for "only" .59 per minute. You need to make 16 minutes of calls in Mexico per month to be worth it. Mexico roaming works for both postpaid and GoPhone customers.
  
• Nextel also offers Mexico roaming service but you won't get much information from Nextel's US owner, Sprint. Nextel of Mexico is a separate company and has good coverage within their service areas which includes much of the interior of Mexico, several highways and parts of some coastal resorts.
  
• Sprint phones can also use the same CDMA sites, but for some reason, Sprint claims only a few of their models will work in Mexico. I expected them to be offering a phone similar to Verizon's CDMA/GSM World Phone, but Sprint says otherwise. Sprint's Mexico roaming fees are also .99 per minute.
  
• T-Mobile phones work well in Mexico since they also use GSM technology, but T-Mobile's roaming charges are $1.49US for calls both in and out of Mexico. Roaming works for both postpaid and T-MobileToGo customers.
  
• Verizon has the same CDMA limitation as Alltel, but if your Verizon phone finds a signal, it will work. There are no regular Verizon plans that include Mexico roaming, so calls will be .99 per minute for both incoming and outgoing calls.
  
  

• TelCel offers the best coverage in the country, and sells a nice prepaid package, "Amigo", that includes phone, SIM ("chip") and a prepaid card. They also offer just the SIM, some of which have minutes already loaded on them. You can bring your own "Unlocked" GSM phone and plug in the TelCel SIM. Your GSM carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile and others) MAY provide you with your unlock code. If not, or you if don't subscribe to those networks, you can buy an unlocked GSM phone online or at eBay, and use that phone on the TelCel network. Calls TO the US are roughly $1.40US per minute, and incoming calls are much cheaper, usually free. TelCel offers a plan with reasonable charges for calls to the US, called "Pay Per Call." With Pay Per Call you pay about $1.10 US for up to 20 minutes calling time FROM Mexico TO the US. And if you wanted a link from one phone to another while in Mexico, Mobile to Mobile calls are .50 per call, also for up to 20 minutes. Local calls are 50 cents(US) for 20 minutes. However, they have made the "Pay Per Call" plan almost impossible to get. You must go to a center activation center to make the switch and there is normally just one or two such centers in large cities. Also, users report that these rates only apply to calls made from the city in which your card is activated. Calls made outside that area are charged as much as 60% more. There are also reports of additional charges made to phones not based in the town from which you are calling. While these charges are difficult to track, they still may be a more economical option. If you can, ask as many questions at a TelCel store about what charges apply to your specific calls. Also, our TelCel refills don't "rollover". Add a new prepaid card and you lose some or all of your previous minutes.
  
• Movistar offers prepaid options and their network is now almost as good as TelCel's. You can also buy a Movistar SIM only and use your own, "Unlocked" GSM phone. But Movistar retailers are hard to find. Movistar also offers "Pay Per Call". The rates are the same, about $1.10 US. that gets you 20 minutes of calling time per call. Their web site claims there are no additional Pay per Call charges while roaming, and the lack of user complaints seems to confirm that. However, you would be advised to ask. Movistar claims assistance in Spanish & English at *611, including emergency calls, and offers local tourism information at *2424, however, we have never been able to access any English-speaking assistance at Movistar, either on the cellular phone, or at their national toll-free number. Unlike TelCel, Movistar calls to 611 are free.
  
• Iusacel seems to act like an unwanted stepchild since they currently use the CDMA network that looks like it is being dismantled in Mexico. While their rates are similar to TelCel and Movistar, you must buy their phone. They don't use SIM's. The future of Iusacel is not clear, but we are guessing they too will convert their network and phones to GSM.
  
• Nextel of Mexico is a different company than the US version. Their coverage is better within the interior of Mexico and not as extensive around the resorts, but it works very well within their service area. They do not offer much for the short-time visitor but have a big following among business people.
  
  Mexican wireless services are much more reasonable for local calls, and incoming calls, including those from the US, are often free. They also have good rates for "mobile to mobile" calls within each Mexican city for family members to keep in touch with each other. Just beware there still could be significant 'roaming' or long distance charges. If you don't speak Spanish you won't understand as many of the benefits or pitfalls.