Best U.S. Cell Carrier in Cozumel

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

George Monnat Jr

Divemaster (DM)
ScubaBoard Supporter
Messages
214
Reaction score
123
Location
Austin, TX
# of dives
200 - 499
Hey all. AT&T has terrible service in Cozumel (no data, $10/day/line for voice and text), and we're looking to switch. Are you happy with your non-AT&T cell phone plan in Cozumel? If yes, what is it?
 
Hey all. AT&T has terrible service in Cozumel (no data, $10/day/line for voice and text), and we're looking to switch. Are you happy with your non-AT&T cell phone plan in Cozumel? If yes, what is it?

Love T-Mobile - everywhere.

Be aware, T-Mobile will remain a US phone when you're in Mexico, e.g. you would call your neighbor in Austin just like you do when sitting in your living room at home. When you call your dive shop when you're in Mexico, using their local number, you will have to dial internationally. There are no additional charges for calling to the US or Mexico when you're in Mexico.

They just texted me this morning, advising me that my bill is due on May 9, in the amount of $140.16, which is for 4 lines with unlimited everything.

When we were returning from our last trip, wi-fi was acting a little wonky. Called tech support, and they sent me a new sim card via UPS next day air.
 
My Verizon works well for me in Cozumel. I'm 20 miles from an interstate hiway so avoid also-rans like T-mobile here.
 
I like to buy a local sim when I travel. It's cheap and easy in most locations. 6 weeks in Italy and Germany cost me about $40 total, with unlimited local calls and more data than I could need. Skype, iMessage, WazzApp, and Facetime Voice all work via data for calling or messaging friends and family.

I did the same when in Mexico, Honduras, and the UK.
 
I don't like to worry about each place I go. Our Sprint plan covers a HUGE (over 150) number of countries. I get free data and free texting. Calls are .10/min I think. This served me well during our trip to Phillippines and China. Even though I have heard Facebook is off limits in China, I never missed a beat sharing pics of the great times we were having.

Next week we're off to Egypt, and I fully expect to enjoy the same benefits from Sprint this trip. But it might be a bit complicated when we're out in the Red Sea :)
 
T Mobile, it just works, in Cozumel and everywhere else in Mexico and Canada that I have used it. No extra fees and I can tether like I am now to my tablet. I believe there is a limit that I do not exceed my domestic usage but then I can always download a few movies before I travel to pump that number up.
If there is any service it connects. The day after Trump got elected the island lost Telcel service because the fiber optic cable from the mainland was damaged by construction, everyone jokingly blamed it on Trump. Thes island was paralyzed and they couldn't sell gas or other services due to the loss of Internet and Telcel phone service. I was on the boat below Columbia shallows and could hook to the shop via Movistar.
 
T-Mobile worked great for us this year. We have used AT&T and Verizon in Cozumel but T-Mobile is better and cheaper.
 
There are no US based carriers in Mexico.

Each US carrier has roaming agreements with Mexican carriers. AT&T is usually a ripoff and the most expensive option. T-Mobile is usually the cheapest but can impose limits on data speeds. They all use the same towers on the island so you’re really looking at price and speed differentials. Do the research on the carrier website. Buying a local SIM is always the cheapest but most inconvenient option.
 
Yeah, it's so often the roaming agreements. Even in my local area, Verizon buys airtime from ATT in some places. In some others they should but don't, then our exchange student's ATT phone will work where Verizon has no service. We run into that a lot traveling. On a recent trip to Garner State Park, we had no service on the family Verizon phones for 70 miles from Junction to the entrance and beyond.

They all work okay on the island I guess, at least in the parts served by towers, depending on the roaming agreements and limitations. Shop for what works well for you in your home area and usual travels, with generous roaming allowances on the island.

Phone models used to matter a lot on reception, but I think nowadays all the smart phones get about the same reception. None of them use external antennas now.
 
What issues do you have with ATT in Cozumel? I get good service in town but spotty service down south by Playa Palancar. I jut assumed all service was spotty there.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

Back
Top Bottom