
Travel Sim Card from SimCorner
SimCorner's prepaid SIM cards let you enjoy local call, text and data rates in dozens of countries around the world.
View detailsFinder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.
Updated
Visiting Turkmenistan is not for everyone, given its struggling economy and the government’s strict policies on media, photography and Internet usage. You can buy a prepaid SIM card, TMT5 credit and 1GB of data good for 30 days for TMT170 (US$48.57). In order to help you make the best selection for your prepaid SIM card needs in Turkmenistan, finder.com offers the following guide to the nation’s mobile operators.
SimCorner's prepaid SIM cards let you enjoy local call, text and data rates in dozens of countries around the world.
View detailsThe state of mobile network operators in Turkmenistan is in flux. The only non-state owned operator was suspended in September 2017 when negotiations between the Russian-owned company and the Turkmenistan government were shut down. This came two months after the Turkmenistan Ministry of Communication announced the launch of a new mobile service called Ay Nazar for late 2017/early 2018. That leaves state-owned TM CELL as the only network provider presently active.
It’s the only game in town for the time being, so all local prepaid SIM cards must be bought from them. TM CELL has good 2G/3G coverage throughout the country and it started its 4G/LTE network in 2013. It’s available to prepaid customers and does not have any surcharges. In order to purchase anything, you’ll have to visit a TM CELL office and become a subscriber. Doing this involves showing your passport and visa, and confirming an address that you’ll be staying at in Turkmenistan. Only one SIM card can be bought per customer.
A prepaid starter pack costs TMT10 and it comes with a preloaded credit of TMT5. The only available sizes are normal SIMs, but you should be able to ask your clerk to cut the SIM down to micro or nano size. If you are expecting incoming calls on your phone while in Turkmenistan, be aware that you will be charged a fee for them.
The basic data rate is between TMT0.15 and TMT0.20 per MB for prepaid plans. There is a nighttime discount between 2am and 9am when the rate drops to TMT0.03 per MB. When using a data plan, you need to be vigilant about checking how much you have available. If your account balance drops below TMT3 at any point, TM CELL will block your Internet access until you recharge it. To check your current data balance, send a text to 0805. Also, you cannot recharge online. There are three options to do so, but only two of them are advised.
The third option involves topping up at an ATM machine with your credit card. However, this practice does not always work, and we’re hesitant to advise you to stick your credit card in a foreign ATM machine without knowing for certain what’s going to happen.
Recharging via voucher can be done by dialing *0808. In past instances, the option to change the menu to English existed, but it seems to have disappeared. The following data packages are available:
Name | Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
---|---|---|---|---|
Internet-3 | TMT3 | 50MB | 30 days | *0850*3# |
Internet-55 | TMT55 | 1GB | 30 days | *0850*55# |
Internet-160 | TMT160 | 4GB | 30 days | *0850*160# |
Internet-350 | TMT350 | 10GB | 30 days | *0850*350# |
APN: gprs.tmcell
Website (in Russian, Turkmen and a bit of English) : http://tmcell.tm/
Q: What happened to the MTS network?
A: The Russian-owned MTS had a contract with the Turkmenistan government from 2015 to the end of 2017. The two sides were negotiating a new deal when the government suspended the contract and all operations in September 2017. This came one day after a 5-year agreement between the partners on profit-sharing came to an end.
Turkmenistan has just one SIM card provider currently. Here are some of the positives and negatives about this company.
WorldSIM offers prepaid international SIM cards with coverage in over 200 countries and varying add-ons for call and data options.
Traveling overseas? See how much it costs to roam globally with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Mint Mobile and Cricket Wireless.
Here are our picks for the nine best prepaid plans after analyzing pricing, data, features, discounts and fine print.
With worldwide acceptance, Visa credit cards are one of the best for travel. Your choices include airline, hotel, cruise and general travel credit cards.
Here’s what you need to know about using a credit card in Pakistan. We help you do your homework before you travel.
Compare travel insurance options for your trip to Ecuador and learn about what it can, or can’t, cover.
Before you head away on your German vacation, make sure you have adequate travel insurance in place to provide financial protection against a wide range of risks.
The lone network operator for Tuvalu is Tuvalu Telecom but it provides SIM cards and Wi-Fi hot spots.
Two 4G/LTE networks cover just the main islands of Vanuatu.
Zambia’s best SIM card providers offer a multitude of data plans and other bundles.