Contributed by: Don Winner
Question: What is the best cell phone carrier in Panama? Which has the best coverage? Which company has the best price for calls within Panama and to and from the USA? Is it worth buying a phone there?
Answer: There are two primary cell phone providers, Cable and Wireless (C&W) and Movistar. Both companies offer a choice of using either prepaid cards, or signing a contract with monthly payments. There are more people on the Movistar network and they offer discounts for calls between cellphones on the same network. Both C&W and Movistar have similar levels of coverage nationwide, but if you're specifically planning to visit or live in an area outsite of Panama City or away from the main highways then you should check to see which company covers that specific area. The problem is that the cell phone companies are putting up new towers and extending their networks all the time so its hard (if not impossible) to give you an accurate and complete answer. (more)
In general, both companies cover most of the country very well.
As far as rates are concerned both companies offer plans that are very competetive. Here's a link to the contract rates for C&W. To read these, the number at the end of the plan name is the minutes included in the plan. The price is per month, and the on net and off net overages are costs per minute once you've used up your contract minutes.
I tried to get the same information from the Movistar website but it appears they are updating their prices. I would suspect that they are adjusting prices for a Christmas push or promition, and every time they adjust their prices its good news for customers (more time in the contract, less cost per minute).
Both C&W and Movistar offer pre-paid cards, so if you don't want to sign up for a contract then you can just buy the cards and pay as you go. And, they often put on "specials" in which the $5 and $10 cards will give you double or triple airtime, and those prices end up working out to be the same effective price as if you were on a contract.
As far as buying a phone is concerned, that's usually your best bet. If you're moving to Panama and you have a phone with a GSM chip then you can just buy a new chip for local service and stick it in. Most people buy a cheap phone when they get here and use prepaid cards. It ends up being the cheapest way for a short haul. If you're going to be here for a long time and live on the cell phone, then it makes more sense to get a contract, and the companies usually will give you a better phone at a discount when you sign the contract.
Between the two, I use Movistar and I'm happy with the service. Hope this helps.
Related Search: http://www.panama-guide.com/search.php?query=cell+phone&type=all&mode=search
Reply from Jim: Don, as far as I am concerned, I think they both SUCK. C&W cut my service because I did not pay - turns out they had some how put in an incorrect expiration date last June. It was fine all year long then all of a sudden it gets changed. They even have a copy of my card!!! Of course its my fault. The other jokers have cut my wife's service because she " has not paid for her phone" funny that it was charged to my credit card!!!! You think anyone cares at either place! I understand why the phone booths are always broken now - only way to get some kind of satisfaction!!!! CHEERS - Jim
Panama Guide
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