eSIM Madagascar: compare, buy, and travel connected

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Running out of the internet away from home is one of the worst things that can happen to us, right? Therefore, if you want to avoid this stressful moment during your trip, we recommend taking a glimpse at the new eSIM for Madagascar. Above all, you can forget about other pricey options such as Pocket WiFi or roaming in Madagascar.

Moreover, if you don’t know much about the eSIM with data for Madagascar, don’t worry, because in Roaming we are going to tell you everything you need to know to use, buy and activate your eSIM or international SIM card chip during your trip. Additionally, we will also tell you about the prices and plans that you can buy with your eSIM in Madagascar.

Contents

Requirements to install the eSIM Madagascar:

Indeed, the first thing you need to know before buying an eSIM for your trip is the requirements you have to meet to use this product. Because, although embedded SIM or eSIM cards are more and more popular, some smartphone manufacturers have not yet included them in their devices; therefore, you should consider the following aspects before buying this product:

  • The first and essential aspect is that your cell phone must support eSIM technology or have an embedded SIM card.  Once you check this, the second thing you will have to verify is that the eSIM of the provider you want to buy from is compatible with your cell phone. The smartphones with the greatest compatibility are the iPhone XS and later versions.
  • Another requirement that you need to meet when buying your eSIM is to have an email to receive the QR code to activate the product. In addition to email, when you activate the product, you must have a prior internet connection.
  • You have to consider that some providers will ask you to install their app to download the eSIM. This depends on each provider, some will ask you for it while others will not.

Mobile providers of eSIM cards to travel to Madagascar

After meeting the above requirements, you are now ready to buy your eSIM and start browsing in Madagascar. If you want to know how and where you can get your eSIM in Madagascar, then we will show you some of the companies that sell international eSIM cards.  These eSIMs are intended to be used for tourism or business trips abroad:

  • Holafly
  • GlobaleSIM
  • YeSIM

Prices and data plans of eSIM providers to travel to Madagascar

Thus, now that you know which carriers provide you with an eSIM to connect to the internet during your trip to Madagascar, the next thing you should know before buying this product with any of the providers is the prices and the plans they offer you. To save you some time, we have drawn a list of the plans and prices of each provider for the eSIM Madagascar.

Holafly plans and prices in Madagascar:

  • 6 GB for 15 days at $44 USD

GlobaleSIM prices in Madagascar:

  • 1 GB for 7 days at $49

YeSIM plans to travel to Madagascar:

  • 1 GB for 14 days at $47

Comparison of eSIM providers for Madagascar

ProviderDataDaysPrice (USD)LanguageSales channels
Holafly6 GB15$44Spanish, English, German, and FrenchWeb
GlobaleSIM1 GB7$49EnglishWeb
YeSIM1 GB30$57EnglishApp Store, Google Play
Table 1. Comparison of eSIM providers to connect to the internet in Madagascar.

Features of the eSIM to travel to Madagascar

Don’t know what to expect from your eSIM to travel to Madagascar? If you want to know more precisely what you’re buying, then we will show you the main features that you must consider before you buy your eSIM to connect to the internet during your trip to Madagascar. Despite the similarities between this product and others such as the Madagascar SIM card, the eSIM has the following features:

  • Most eSIMs don’t offer you analog calls, that is, you can only access data through the eSIM. However, if you want to call your loved ones during your trip, you can do so through apps such as Skype or WhatsApp.
  • The eSIM can only be installed once on your cell phone, so if you’re having problems with your eSIM card, we don’t recommend that you remove the eSIM from your smartphone, but instead contact your eSIM provider.
  • Your iPhone or Android smartphone will become a dual SIM device since the eSIM allows you to use it simultaneously with the traditional physical SIM card you have.
  • You can add multiple data plans on your iPhone, although it’s only possible to use one at a time.

Coverage of the eSIM to travel to Madagascar

Equally important, one of the most important features that you have to consider when buying your eSIM is the coverage of the eSIM in Madagascar. That is, the internet network the eSIM uses to connect to the internet at your destination. Since you may be buying an eSIM at a very cheap price, the coverage it offers you in Madagascar may be quite limited or low.

So, if you don’t want this to happen to you during your trip, we recommend that before making your purchase, check with the provider which cellular internet line they use. The cellular operators with internet networks in Madagascar that have the best coverage are Orange Mobile and Telma Mobile. The latter is the largest cellular operator in Madagascar.

However, Telma Mobile and Orange Mobile are not the only cellular operators that you can find in Madagascar. In addition to these two, you can also find Airtel. However, this operator doesn’t have a coverage as large as the previous two. Still, it’s also considered one of the best. If you want to know the national coverage of these operators, below, we present the cellular network coverage maps for your trip to Madagascar.

Telma Mobile 3G coverage map in Madagascar

Telma 3G coverage map in Madagascar. Source: GSMA

Orange Mobile 3G coverage map in Madagascar

Orange Mobile 3G coverage map in Madagascar. Source: GSMA

Airtel 3G coverage map in Madagascar

Airtel 3G coverage map in Madagascar. Source: GSMA

Local Mobile operators offering eSIM in Madagascar

Currently, no cellular operator offers the possibility of having an eSIM. Yet, you can buy an eSIM that has the cellular networks of the best operators in Madagascar. In the case of the Holafly eSIM Madagascar, it uses the cellular network of Airtel. As we mentioned before, is one of the best in Madagascar.

Even though cellular operators don’t offer the possibility of buying an eSIM directly with them, it must be considered that to activate a data plan with an eSIM, certain requirements must be met, and some procedures must be carried out. The eSIM of cellular operators in Madagascar is mostly intended for permanent residents and not for travelers. However, there may be exceptions. Even so, we will have to wait for them to enable the option of getting an eSIM directly with the operators.

FAQ about eSIM in Madagascar

If you have any questions about the new eSIMs for your trip to Madagascar, don’t worry because we will answer the most frequently asked questions that travelers usually have regarding their eSIM Madagascar.

Do I need a passport to buy the eSIM Madagascar?

It’s not necessary to present a passport to get this product. But some providers do require your address to give you the eSIM. Therefore, to buy this product, you can show that you have a temporary residence address in Madagascar, such as a previously booked hotel.

Can I share data with the eSIM in Madagascar?

This will depend on the features of the eSIM that you bought from your provider. You can do that with certain providers only. In the case of eSIM Madagascar from Holafly, you can share data with your friends from your cell phone, creating a portable WiFi spot.

How to activate the eSIM Madagascar?

The activation process will depend on the operating system of your smartphone. You must scan the QR code sent to your email after buying the eSIM and once you do this, you must choose it as the default means of cellular data, activate data, and roaming and your virtual SIM should now work.

Do international prepaid eSIM cards expire?

Yes, like physical cards, virtual SIMs also have an expiration date.

What other options do I have to connect to the internet in Madagascar?

During your trip to Madagascar, you will have different options to connect to the internet. Among these alternatives, you find the roaming service and Pocket WiFi.

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