Basics
Edit
There are 4 mobile operators in Peru:
- Movistar Peru (by Telefónica)
- Claro Peru (by America Móviles)
- Entel Peru (formely Nextel)
- Bitel (by Viettel)
This is be added by MVNOs like Virgin Mobile which has started in 2016 and the Telefónica subsidiary Tuenti that may not be available to foreigners because of activation procedures.
As in many other countries, the incumbent operator Movistar offers the best coverage, but at higher rates. Claro as challenger has a heavy marketing footprint all over the country, while Movistar is less visible. Despite that, where there is Claro, there is always Movistar too. Either next door (literally) or in the same Claro-colored small shop/street vendor.
Regulations Edit
In recent years the local regulator Osiptel backed by the Peruvian governement introduced a rigid registration scheme. Since 2015 operators are required to verify the identity of Peruvian citizens showing a local ID called DNI via biometric systems and only activate a line once the user’s fingerprint matches that on record at the country’s national ID register Reniec. Heavy fines have been imposed in 2015 to the operators for not complying in the past. These measures have been taken as the country has declared a state of emergency because of a crime wave involving undocumented SIM cards for kidnapping, blackmail and gang crime. These rules used to be bypassed by users activating their SIM card on behalf of some other’s name. This was a common practice for years.
The Peruvian black market Edit
In spite of this, visitors can’t help notice there is still a very visible black market on many market streets of Lima, Cusco and other towns for already pre-registered SIM cards called chips. They are sold for as low as S./5 and Claro vendors even sell them for free. The ambulantes (street vendors)can be easliy spotted for their vests with the logos of the providers and some of them even hold up signs (see details in this report in Spanish).
While the vendors are poor chaps making a living of selling SIM cards, their business can’t be possible without at least the approval of the operators. Police is also only watching these activites on open streets. That’s why so far the Government has had little success in combatting un-authorized SIM cards. This WIKI will not tell you which way you should purchase your SIM card, but to be considerate of what you are doing. Without going the legal way, you risk suspension anytime. Some million undocumented SIMs were already blocked by the providers and the regulator.
Movistar Peru Edit
Movistar in Peru, owned by Spanish Telefónica, is the biggest provider and market leader in the country. It has more than 1/2 of all mobile customers and the best coverage (coverage map). But this comes at the highest prices. Also, you should keep in mind t when you are travelling overland between major cities many hours without any signal are common.
Availability Edit
A SIM card called chip prepago is available for S/.8 in their stores (store locator). Registration at a Movistar office is a little complicated and time-consuming: it takes around 30 minutes for the clerk to fill out all the forms for you and have you pay the cashier at a different counter. For convenience, ask the clerk to write down your phone number (even though it’s somewhere on the paper that he will give you). It may take up to 24 hours until you new SIM card will connect to the network, other providers do this a bit faster.
Recharges Edit
Movistar stores don’t sell credit for whatever reason. Corner convenient stores and many others stores and supermarkets sell prepaid value. A good way is to look for stores that have signs with Movistar logos and recarga hanging outside their storefront. There are two common methods of adding phone credit:
Another way to add phone credit is to do it paper-free at a store checkout by having your phone number and money on hand. Inform the person at checkout that you want to add phone credit: Movistar recarga; tell them the amount; and they’ll take care of processing the phone credit transaction. Similar to adding credit with a prepaid card, you’ll also receive a SMS to confirm that transaction at checkout.
Data feature packages Edit
Default rate outside of packages is the daily rate or Tarífa diaria: For S/.1 you get 10 MB per calendar day. Having used up your 10 MB, you’ll be notified and can decide, whether you buy another 10 MB pack for S/.1. So better disable cellular data and don’t use any data before buying a data package as the data you may use in the meantime will consume a small amount of your balance and you may not be able to buy the package. These packages are offered:
To buy a package, dial *515# and follow the menu options (first press 3 for “Promos INTERNET” then either choose a package or “4 mas” browsing through the packages with “mas”. Their regular weekly packs are hidden behind semanal and monthly behind mensal. The larger data packages are in the monthly section. This means you need to put the SIM card in a phone to get the package you want, before using it with your tablet.
- Facebook for a day: S./ 1
- WhatsApp for a day: S./ 1
To check balance and data balance dial *515# -> Consultas -> Consultas de saldo, you will get three sms with balances (sms, data, money).
More info Edit
- APN: movistar.pe
- Username: <blank> or: movistar@datos
- Password: <blank> or: movistar
- Website: http://www.movistar.com.pe
Claro PeruEdit
cities many hours without any signal are common.
Availability Edit
Prepaid SIM cards can be purchased from any Claro store (store locator) for S./ 5. Standard SIMs are freely available, micro and nano SIMs can be found too. Foreigners can purchase a SIM card only through corporate-run stores by bringing a passport. The process will go as follow: take a ticket to speak with an agent, the agent will take a photocopy and fill out paperwork, pay for the SIM at the cashier, then SIM will be activated by the agent. At this point another visit to the cashier will be required to reload the SIM and then the various activation codes can be sent to activate the proper data feature packs. Activation and filling out paperwork takes about 15 minutes which seems a bit swifter than Movistar.
Recharges Edit
You can recharge it at their stores or many other kiosks or convenience stores throughout the country showing the Claro logo (see Movistar above). Furthermore, you can try their local top-up website, but they may decline your international credit card. Instead, you can also use their international top-up site https://claro.mobilerecharge.com which accepts these cards, but this can lead to very unfavourable exchange rates.
Data feature packs Edit
Default rate for data is the daily rate: For S/.1 you get 15 MB per calendar day. If you have used up your 10 MB, another 15 MB pack for S/.1 will be charged. Better subscribe to one of their data packages:
To activate, text code to 779 or type *779# <call> and choose package. All packages auto-renew. To stop text “SALIR” to 779. You can buy up to four packages but unused data volume will be lost after the time period.
More info Edit
- APN: claro.pe
- Username and password: claro
- Website: http://www.claro.com.pe
entel (formely Nextel) Edit
The Chilean market leader Entel bought Peruvian network Nextel in 2013 and changed its name to Entel in 2014. It is still building up its network and lacks the coverage of the big two providers, but can be reasonable if you stick to the cities (2G 3G 4G coverage map). Please note however coverage is very limited in the Loreto Department (Amazonas region). There is no (zero) siginal when travelling by boat between Yurimaguas and Iquitos.
Availability Edit
Their prepaid SIM card for voice and data is available in their stores (store locator) and is called Súper chip prepago. It is sold for S/. 5 and comes with 50-250 MB data depending on promotion if you top-up at least S/. 3. They do some paperwork in the store and even take a fingerprint of you.
Data feature packages Edit
Default rate without a data pack is S/. 0.25 per MB. These data packs called súperbolsas are offered:
You can subscribe to these packages online on your account or by typing *144# <call> option 3 and choose the pack you want. You can buy serveral packs but data volume which is not used within the time period will be lost.
Data-only SIM Edit
As only provider in Peru, Entel offers a data-only SIM without text or voice intended for tablets and modem use. It is called Internet Móvil Prepago and the SIM-only solo chip. It comes in two varieties:
- 100 MB for 15 days on 3G/4G: S/. 15
- 2 GB for 15 days on 3G/4G: S/. 69
Additional data is S/. 0.1187 per MB. For more data, you can buy one of these superbolsas:
- 50 MB for 7 days: S/. 3
- 350 MB for 7 days: S/. 9
- 1 GB for 15 days: S/. 19
- 2 GB for 15 days: S./ 29
Tourist SIM Edit
In 2016 they started to offer a SIM card called Super Chip Turista aimed at tourists in some stores in Lima-Miraflores, Arequipa and Cusco. For the starter price of S/. 69 it contains 20 dom. minutes, 2 GB data and unlimited WhatsApp (VoIP incl.) and Facebook for 15 days. It’s only available in a few stores shown here. For more volumeyou can add:
- S/. 39: 10 dom. mins and 1 GB data
- S/. 69: 20 dom. mins and 2 GB data
More info Edit
- APN: entel.pe
- Authentication: CHAP
- Website: http://www.entel.pe
bitel Edit
Bitel is the latest arrival in Peru. They are the Latinamerican branch of Vietnamese army-owned Viettel and started in 2014 with an own network in the country. It’s on 3G only in a rather limited area (see coverage map or list) on 900 MHz and 1900 MHz. So better check, if you have coverage, before buying a SIM card. In the Loreto dept (Amazonas region) bitel offers good coverage.
Availability and recharges Edit
Their prepaid SIM card is called BiFri and sold for S/. 1 in their stores (list) and outlets (list). You can recharge your chip at Scotiabank and BCP banks, Repsol service stations and Boticas de Salud pharmacies (map). If you top-up S/. 3 every month, you will get free WhatsApp for 30 days.
Data feature packages Edit
Data outside of packages is pretty expensive with S./ 0.41 per MB. Alternatively, the DATAMAX plans offer good rates:
Activation is likewise by typing sequence after dialling *9090#. These packages will NOT renew. All packages of 100 MB are “unlimited” meaning data is throttled ro 128 kbps for overuse.
- DM1: 75 MB for S/. 1
- DM3: 250 MB for S/. 3
- DM10: 1 GB for S/. 10
- DM20: 2 GB for S/. 20
More info Edit
- APN: BITEL
- Authentication: PAP
- Website: http://www.bitel.com.pe/
tuenti Edit
Tuenti can be considered as the first MVNO in the country. But for legal reasons, it’s not a real MVNO but a subsidiary of Telefónica. It resells the network of Movistar in 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE and is aimed at the urban youth.
Availability Edit
The starter pack called chip is available for free in all Coolbox stores and where you see their logo. It may depend on the shop assistant if he/she is able or willing to fill in your passport no. in the required DNI (national ID card) field or not. Officially, you need to have a Peruvian DNI, but this is not enforced all the time.
Combo packages Edit
First, you have to add one of their four combined packages:
- Combo 5: 150 MB, 25 mins voice, 25 mins VoIP, for 5 days: S/. 5
- Combo 10: 500 MB, 50 mins voice, 50 mins VoIP, for 10 days: S/. 10
- Combo 20: 1 GB, 100 mins voice, 100 mins VoIP, for 20 days: S/. 20
All the combos include unlimited WhatsApp and unlimited domestic text. VoIP calls are made through their own app Tuenti Voz Digital.
More info Edit
- no international roaming available
- APN: mobile.tuenti.pe
- Username and password: internet
- Website: http://www.tuenti.pe/
Virgin mobile Edit
Virgin Mobile has finally launched its service in Peru in 2016 becoming the country’s first real MVNO aimed at young people aged 18-34. It uses the network of Movistar in 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE. Pilot sales have begun in 2016/7 in the two biggest towns of the country Lima and Arequipa.
Availability Edit
The starter pack called chip is available for S/. 13 (official sales price) at their sales outlets (locator) with S/. 5 credit preloaded . Like with Tuenti, it’s not clear if the vendor called ‘Rock Agent’ will be able to register you without a local ID (DNI). You can find them too on the black market.
Data feature packages Edit
Data outside of packages is S/. 0.10 per MB. They offer 2 varieties of packs either monthly combo packs called Antiplanos and short-term data-only packs called Bolsas. These Antiplanes valid for 30 days are available:
- S/. 25: 450 MB, 100 mins, 500 SMS, free unlimited Facebook and WhatsApp
- S/. 30: 1GB, 200 mins, 500 SMS, free unlimited Facebook and WhatsApp
- S/. 50: 2.5 GB, 400 mins, 500 SMS, free unlimited Facebook and WhatsApp
- S/. 70: 5 GB, 800 mins, 500 SMS, free unlimited Facebook and WhatsApp
These Bolsas are sold:
- S/. 1: 20 MB plus unlimited WhatsApp for 1 day (= 24 hours)
- S/. 5: 125 MB plus unlimited WhatsApp for 5 days
- S/. 10: 300 MB plus unlimited WhatsApp for 10 days
- S/. 25: 1 GB plus unlimited WhatsApp for 30 days
Activate package by *505#. All packages auto-renew. To stop, dial *505#. All allowances are domestic only. Free unlimited WhatsApp includes VoIP calls too, which is rare.
Tourist SIM Edit
Virgin Mobile Peru recently released a Visitor SIM card pack exclusively for tourists visiting Peru.
- S/. 50 for 20 domestic minutes, 2 GB, unlimited WhatsApp, all valid for 15 days.
To obtain this SIM pack, fill out the online form including passport number, name and email and select a collection point. You can pay for the package by credit card (most cards accepted). Once details are confirmed by email, you can pick up the SIM at the specified collection point.