To make traveling around Georgia as comfortable as possible, you need to think through some things in advance, one of which is mobile communications.
The life of a modern person is a continuous exchange of information, so having a mobile phone has become an urgent necessity, especially when traveling. After all, by phone you can contact your homeland, arrange a meeting with local friends or relatives, find out about available excursions, go online, etc.
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In Georgia, everything is fine with mobile communications. Almost everywhere there is at least third generation coverage. Sometimes it's surprising. For example, you are going to the Alazani Valley to harvest grapes - far, far away. Where the asphalt ends there is no advertising, and the only restaurants are roadside ones. And there is one salad in it. And not Caesar or Greek, but just cucumbers and tomatoes with onion rings. You reach into your pocket for your phone, and there – bam “3G”. Or even "N". In general, all Georgian operators have switched to “4G” - but only in large cities.
It’s better to get a local number: call a taxi driver, hotel, guesthouse or hostel. Or making a splash on Instagram and Facebook is also a necessary thing. With a SIM card in roaming, this will be a very expensive thing to do. So it’s better to buy a card from a Georgian operator and forget about this issue.
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Mobile operators in Georgia
Currently, there are three operators in the country: GeoCell (www.Geocell.ge), Magticom (www.magticom.ge) and the Russian Beeline, which controls almost a third of the market in Georgia (www.beeline.ge).
If we talk about prices, they are slightly lower for Beeline, but it has one strange feature: its SIM cards only work in 2G and 4G networks. So, if you have a 3G device, the choice is narrowed down to Geosell and Magti.
At the moment I had SIM cards from two local operators - Geosell and Beeline. In both cases, there were no complaints about either mobile communications or the Internet. Since I need the Internet for work, I often distributed it from my phone to my laptop - in most cases, the signal quality was better than hotel Wi-Fi.
Complete guide to Georgia: all information for holidays and travel
How to connect
You can buy a Georgian SIM card anywhere – at the airport, in shopping centers and supermarkets, even in markets. But it’s still better to do this in the official showroom of one or another provider - in this case you will be able to get all the necessary information in Russian. As in Russia, to buy a SIM card in Georgia you need to show your passport.
There are enough offices of mobile operators in Tbilisi - Beeline and Geosell have especially many of them, Magti has fewer. All three operators have salons on one of the main streets of the city, Rustaveli Avenue - you can go through all of them and choose a package with the most suitable conditions.
Connection
To activate the service, we recommend using one of the methods:
- On your mobile phone enter the request *111*902# and make a call. A menu appears on the screen where you need to select the connection section using the desired number. In a minute you will receive an SMS about the successful activation of the service.
- Send a text message to the short number 111, specify code 902 in the body of the letter. After activation, a confirmation will be sent.
- Register and log in to your personal account or the My MTS application. In the section with and click the connect button.
- Contact the help desk staff at 0890, who will remotely activate the option if you present your passport details.
- Personally go to the MTS communication salon with documents, managers will activate upon request, explain the services, rules of use.
The connection takes place immediately, in rare cases it takes 15 minutes.
Prices and tariffs
The cost of a SIM card for all operators is on average 2 lari. Geosell has free travel SIM cards, usually handed out at hotels and airports. Another pleasant nuance: there is no national roaming in Georgia - that is, when traveling throughout the country, you will pay exactly the price that would be for you in Tbilisi.
Tariffs for mobile communications and Internet Geosell
AllInclusive travel package
Includes: 30 minutes of international calls; unlimited calls and SMS to Georgian numbers; 2 Gb mobile internet. Price 20 GEL, validity period 15 days. If necessary, you can purchase additional mobile Internet packages: 500 Mb 3 GEL, 1.2 Gb 5 GEL, 2 Gb 7 GEL, 4 Gb 10 GEL, 6 Gb 15 GEL, 15 Gb 30 GEL.
Globus tariff
Calls to Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, CIS - 20 tetri/minute (4.5 rubles). Calls within Georgia, as well as to the USA and Canada - 5 tetri/minute (RUB 1.17). Calls to Azerbaijan, Turkey, Europe and Asia - 30 tetri/minute (7 rubles). The connection fee is 10 tetri (RUB 2.33).
Nulomani tariff
In-network calls to Geosell/Lailai numbers are free. Calls to numbers of other mobile operators are 10 tetri/minute (RUB 2.33). SMS: 6 tetri (1.4 rubles). 100 MB of mobile Internet is free, after that - 15 tetri/1 MB. The connection fee is 10 tetri.
Tariff 1-10
All calls within the network are 1 tetri/minute (0.23 rubles), calls to other Georgian operators are 10 tetri (2.33 rubles). The connection fee is 5 tetri (RUB 1.17).
Tariff 1-12
All calls within the network are 1 tetri/minute (0.23 rubles), calls to other Georgian operators are 12 tetri (2.8 rubles). There is no connection fee.
Tariffs for mobile communications and Internet Beeline
Tourist package tariff
Includes 50 minutes of calls in Russia (Ukraine, Belarus, etc.), calls to local numbers without restrictions, SMS without restrictions, 3 GB of 4G mobile Internet. Price: 25 lari/15 days (580 rubles).
You can also take a SIM card with one of the tariff plans below and separately purchase a mobile Internet package - in some cases this turns out to be cheaper than taking a tourist package.
Prices for calls to Russia from the Georgian Beeline are 20 tetri/minute (4.67 rubles).
Tariff "Green"
Includes: free calls within the network, 70 minutes to numbers of other Georgian operators, 700 MB of mobile Internet, 700 SMS. Price: 7 lari/30 days (163 rubles).
Tariff "Blue"
Includes: free calls within the network, 250 minutes to numbers of other Georgian operators, 1 GB of mobile Internet, unlimited SMS. Price: 10 lari/30 days (233 rubles).
Tariff "Red"
Includes: free calls to all Georgian numbers, 2 GB of mobile Internet, unlimited SMS. Price: 25 lari/30 days (583 rubles).
Prices for mobile Internet: 500 Mb - 1 GEL, 600 Mb - 3 GEL, 1 Gb - 4 GEL, 4 Gb - 9 GEL, 7 Gb - 15 GEL, 10 Gb - 20 GEL, 30 Gb - 25 GEL, 50 Gb - 45 GEL.
Tariffs for mobile communications and Internet Magti
Travel package from Magti
Includes: unlimited calls to numbers of local operators; SMS without restrictions; 1 GB mobile internet. Price 25 lari/1 month (583 rubles).
International calls: 15 tetri/1 minute (3.5 rubles).
Zhangbadi tariff
1 GB Internet, 1000 SMS/MMS. Validity period 7 days, price 3 lari (70 rubles).
Tariff "Simple 5"
Unlimited for all calls within the network, 1 GB of Internet, SMS/MMS without restrictions. Validity period 7 days, price 5 lari (117 rubles).
Tariff "Simple 25"
Unlimited to all Georgian numbers, 1 GB of Internet, SMS/MMS without restrictions. Validity period 30 days, price 25 lari (583 rubles).
Tariff "Unlimited+"
Unlimited to all Georgian numbers, 10 GB of Internet, SMS/MMS without restrictions. Validity period 30 days, price 60 lari (1400 rubles).
Prices for mobile Internet packages: 1 Gb - 5 GEL (116 RUB), 3 Gb - 9 GEL (210 RUB), 5 Gb - 12 GEL (280 RUB), 20 Gb - 30 GEL (700 RUB), unlimited - 150 GEL (3500 rubles).
Prices for conversation minutes: 30 minutes 5 GEL (116 RUB), 80 minutes 10 GEL (233 RUB), 150 minutes 15 GEL (350 RUB), 400 minutes 30 GEL (700 RUB), 1000 minutes 60 GEL (1400 RUB).
Prices for SMS packages: 100 SMS 1 GEL (23 RUR), 150 SMS 1.5 GEL (35 RUR), 400 SMS 2.5 GEL (58 RUR), 1000 SMS 5 GEL (116 RUR), unlimited 10 GEL (233 rub).
Internet in roaming: 25 MB 5 GEL (116 RUR), 50 MB 10 GEL (233 RUR), 150 MB 25 GEL (583 RUR), 500 MB 50 GEL (1167 RUR), 1000 MB 75 GEL (1750 RUR).
MTS service – Profitable international calls
The cheapest connection is obtained when calling in your home region. When communicating with other countries, the cost increases significantly. To solve this problem, you need to activate the “Beneficial International Calls” service, which significantly reduces the tariff schedule for calls around the world.
The option enables reduced tariff rates for calls around the world. To get started, the subscriber needs to activate “International Access”, which allows you to make calls outside of Russia.
Comparing standard prices for calls with other countries, the benefits are obvious. Maximum benefit for China. If the user's tariff already has a preferential tariff schedule, then the option will not work. You will need to cancel active services, then activate “Beneficial international calls”.
The cost of using the service is 50 rubles/month, but no funds are debited for activation. At the moment of connection, the first subscription fee is debited from the balance, after which it is withdrawn every month on the connection date. All MTS users can use the option; there are no restrictions on tariffs and payment methods for services.
If you no longer need to call abroad, it is better to disable the option and save 50 rubles every month. The following methods are used for deactivation.
How to call Georgia from Russia
The international dialing code of Georgia is 995. All mobile phone numbers in the country begin with the number 5. To call a Georgian mobile number from abroad, dial this: +995 (country code) XXX (mobile operator code) XXX-XX -XX (subscriber number).
To call a Tbilisi landline phone, you need to dial numbers in the following sequence: 8-dial-10 (exit to an international communication center) 995 (Georgian code) 32 (Tbilisi code) XXX-XX-XX (subscriber number).
Telephone codes of the largest cities in Georgia: Tbilisi - 32; Batumi - 222; Kutaisi - 331.
Cheap calls to Germany using Sipnet
To make cheap calls to landline phones and mobile numbers, you can top up your account in different ways, including cash using payment terminals, electronic money, as well as a bank card and even via SMS. Internet telephony is the optimal type of communication, suitable for any conditions. You can use SIPNET both at home and while traveling or on a business trip. Moreover, you can significantly reduce the costs of both long-distance and international communications. Make calls to Gibraltar, Germany and any other countries!
SIPNET will provide you with: Today, SIPNET is one of the best types of international and long-distance communications. Clients of the service are provided with favorable terms of service. With SIPNET you can call Guinea-Bissau, Germany and many other countries around the world.
SupportIf you have any questions or complaints, please let the operator know
Roaming from Russian operators
If you need to be accessible on your regular phone number while traveling in Georgia, then it makes sense to activate roaming with your home mobile operator.
MTS has this subscription fee of 19 rubles per day; free inbox from 1 to 10 minutes, starting from 11 minutes the price is 9 rubles; outgoing calls to Russia 25 rubles the first minute, then 9 rubles. The SMS package must be activated separately - 100 SMS cost 450 rubles.
Beeline offers its subscribers: subscription fee 10 rubles per day; incoming calls 5 rubles/minute, outgoing calls 15 rubles/minute; outgoing SMS 4 rubles, Internet 1 MB 30 rubles.
Megafon: subscription fee 9 rubles per day; incoming calls are free, outgoing calls within Georgia are 33 rubles/minute, outgoing calls to Russia are 25 rubles/minute; outgoing SMS 6 rubles.
USEFUL TIPS
Useful recommendations will help you avoid problems and unnecessary expenses when roaming on vacation.
• While on the road, you should turn off all data transmissions, so as not to pay unexpected huge sums for communication later
• Heavy applications can drive users into deep disadvantages
• Anything can happen to your phone on the road, so it’s better to write down the numbers in a notepad in advance
• If you put a little more money on your balance than it should be, this will become an additional guarantee of security
• It is not safe to use free Wi-Fi when using banking applications.
• It is better to download all the necessary applications for a long journey in advance, while still at home
Thus, using communications from mobile operators does not always allow you to be online. Is there an alternative to local and domestic providers?
Wi-Fi in Georgia
Currently, Wi-Fi penetration in Georgia is approximately the same as in Europe or Russia - it is available in almost all hotels, guesthouses, hostels and apartments. As far as I remember, Wi-Fi was absent only in the mountainous regions of Tusheti and Khevsureti , but a relatively small number of tourists still go there.
As for the speed and quality of the signal, they are usually always enough for communicating in instant messengers or checking email (but watching movies online is more difficult).
Many localities have “city” free Wi-Fi - for example, in Tbilisi it is the “Tbilisi Loves You” network, which you can connect to in many places in the historical part of the city. There is also free Wi-Fi in the park on Mount Mtatsminda .
As for Wi-Fi in restaurants and cafes, for Tbilisi and Batumi this is practically a rule of good form; it is available almost everywhere (except, perhaps, for some very small khinkali and khachapur restaurants).
Profitable calls to Germany
To start using card telephony from Priority Mobile, fill out the form and click the “Connect for free” button: in the form you must indicate your email address and telephone number (from which you will call to Germany).
After connecting, you will receive an email confirming the connection and detailed instructions. Still have questions? You can ask our online consultants through the feedback window on the website and receive answers in real time or by email.
Life hack: how I save on insurance
It was not easy to find good, working insurance before, but now it has become even more difficult due to the constant jumps in the exchange rate of the ruble against world currencies. For the last few years, I have been purchasing insurance for my travels through the online service Cherehapa - here you can compare the products of different insurers and choose exactly what suits you best:
I also recommend reading a detailed article about choosing the right travel insurance - this may well protect you from unnecessary overpayments and more serious troubles.
