Jul 9, 2013, 11:35 am
Last edit by: joshwex90
Israel has full-service carriers and MVNOs (to the consumer, there is ZERO difference between the 2!)
Full Service
MVNOs*
*None of these carriers work with BlackBerry. If you have a BlackBerry (including the new Q10 or Z10) and you get a SIM from any of these companies, calls/SMS will work, but no data (internet, BlackBerry data such as BBM, push email,) will work. You will need to be connected to WiFi to connect to internet.
If coming to Israel for just a few days, it's probably not worth going through the hassle of signing up with a carrier, and just renting a SIM through one of the following companies: Talk n Save, Israel Phones, TravelCell, or World SIM Travel.
If you're going to be traveling to Israel frequently, then it becomes worth signing up with a carrier. HOT Mobile offers a plan that has no monthly charge, and costs 13 agurot/minute to call Israeli phone numbers, 13 agurot/domestic SMS, cheap direct dialing rates abroad, (15 agurot/minute to USA,) and 13 agurot/MB internet. The cost of the SIM is a one-time fee of NIS 39. Sign up is possible with a foreign credit card and with a passport number in lieu of an Israeli identity number (Teudat Zehut). (Note that this plan isn't listed on the English site.)
If you plan on being in Israel for a month or two, Golan is another option. They have a special now for new subscribers which is their regular plan, free of charge for the first 2 months. The plan includes unlimited domestic calling and unlimited domestic SMS, unlimited 3G data (speeds throttled after 3GB), and international calling. After 2 months, the cost goes up to NIS 99. Sign-up is possible with a foreign credit card and a passport number.
A unique benefit of Golan is the ability to have a virtual phone number, free of charge.
If you'll be in Israel long-term, both HOT Mobile and Golan offer the same unlimited plans at NIS 99, with specials now, such as NIS 49 or NIS 59 for the first few months.
Note regarding prices: All prices include the 18% VAT (Israeli Value Added Tax, or sales tax in Israel)
Prices are listed in (ILS) shekel (NIS = New Israeli Shekel). 100 agurot equal 1 shekel. Google "convert XXX to ILS" to check current exchange rates between shekel and local currency.
How to dial internationally from Israel?
HOT Mobile - dial 00-country code-local phone number OR dial "+" followed by country code and then local number
Golan Telecom - same as HOT Mobile
Orange - 012-country code (via 012 Smile)
Cellcom - 013-country code (via Netvision)
Pelephone - 014-country code (via Bezeq)
Rami Levi - 015-country code (via 015Hallo)
LTE!
Advanced LTE has made it to Israel, though not every carrier currently has it available.
Orange (Partner Communications) and subsidiary 012Smile offer Advanced LTE. To benefit, you must have a phone that supports either LTE band 3 or band 7.
All other networks in Israel use band 7 only!
They are: Pelephone and Cellcom
Full Service
- Orange (also known as Partner Communications)
- Cellcom - Promotion: 2 unlimited cellphone, 15 MBs home internet (sapak only), and home phone line with unlimited calling - NIS 199/month for 6 months (after which price increases to NIS 249)
- Pelephone
- HOT Mobile* (Note: stores are closed Saturday night, contrary to what's listed on the website). HOT Mobile customers benefit from free internet service ("sapak") through HOTnet (though must still purchase "tashtit."
- Golan Telecom*
MVNOs*
- Rami Levi Communications
- YouPhone (also known as Alon Cellular) - Current promotion: NIS 39/month for first 4 months for unlimited talk/text and unlimited internet (speed throttled after 1GB). After 4 months, price goes up to NIS 79. Add NIS 10 to increase base internet to 3GB
- Home Cellular
- 012Smile - Roams off parent company, Orange
*None of these carriers work with BlackBerry. If you have a BlackBerry (including the new Q10 or Z10) and you get a SIM from any of these companies, calls/SMS will work, but no data (internet, BlackBerry data such as BBM, push email,) will work. You will need to be connected to WiFi to connect to internet.
If coming to Israel for just a few days, it's probably not worth going through the hassle of signing up with a carrier, and just renting a SIM through one of the following companies: Talk n Save, Israel Phones, TravelCell, or World SIM Travel.
If you're going to be traveling to Israel frequently, then it becomes worth signing up with a carrier. HOT Mobile offers a plan that has no monthly charge, and costs 13 agurot/minute to call Israeli phone numbers, 13 agurot/domestic SMS, cheap direct dialing rates abroad, (15 agurot/minute to USA,) and 13 agurot/MB internet. The cost of the SIM is a one-time fee of NIS 39. Sign up is possible with a foreign credit card and with a passport number in lieu of an Israeli identity number (Teudat Zehut). (Note that this plan isn't listed on the English site.)
If you plan on being in Israel for a month or two, Golan is another option. They have a special now for new subscribers which is their regular plan, free of charge for the first 2 months. The plan includes unlimited domestic calling and unlimited domestic SMS, unlimited 3G data (speeds throttled after 3GB), and international calling. After 2 months, the cost goes up to NIS 99. Sign-up is possible with a foreign credit card and a passport number.
A unique benefit of Golan is the ability to have a virtual phone number, free of charge.
If you'll be in Israel long-term, both HOT Mobile and Golan offer the same unlimited plans at NIS 99, with specials now, such as NIS 49 or NIS 59 for the first few months.
Note regarding prices: All prices include the 18% VAT (Israeli Value Added Tax, or sales tax in Israel)
Prices are listed in (ILS) shekel (NIS = New Israeli Shekel). 100 agurot equal 1 shekel. Google "convert XXX to ILS" to check current exchange rates between shekel and local currency.
How to dial internationally from Israel?
HOT Mobile - dial 00-country code-local phone number OR dial "+" followed by country code and then local number
Golan Telecom - same as HOT Mobile
Orange - 012-country code (via 012 Smile)
Cellcom - 013-country code (via Netvision)
Pelephone - 014-country code (via Bezeq)
Rami Levi - 015-country code (via 015Hallo)
LTE!
Advanced LTE has made it to Israel, though not every carrier currently has it available.
Orange (Partner Communications) and subsidiary 012Smile offer Advanced LTE. To benefit, you must have a phone that supports either LTE band 3 or band 7.
All other networks in Israel use band 7 only!
They are: Pelephone and Cellcom
Prepaid SIM - Israel (and non-prepaid)
Mar 26, 2014, 11:00 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,899
Note my Internet didn't work until I updated the APN settings. (Phone and texting did; data did not.)
If you do need to set the APN settings manually, these sites may help:
http://www.unlockit.co.nz/mobilesett...ngs.php?id=679
https://www.prepaidisraelisim.com/APN_Settings
http://wiki.apnchanger.org/Israel
If you do need to set the APN settings manually, these sites may help:
http://www.unlockit.co.nz/mobilesett...ngs.php?id=679
https://www.prepaidisraelisim.com/APN_Settings
http://wiki.apnchanger.org/Israel
Mar 27, 2014, 2:10 am
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
They definitely support iPhones, and do sell nano SIMs. That's the webguides that include all the info on APN settings, though you can obviously use what jackal used
jackal, how did you cancel service when you left?
Mar 27, 2014, 2:00 pm
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
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https://www.golantelecom.co.il/web/guides.php
They definitely support iPhones, and do sell nano SIMs. That's the webguides that include all the info on APN settings, though you can obviously use what jackal used
jackal, how did you cancel service when you left?
They definitely support iPhones, and do sell nano SIMs. That's the webguides that include all the info on APN settings, though you can obviously use what jackal used
jackal, how did you cancel service when you left?
Mar 29, 2014, 3:07 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
There's a website (netek.co.il) that allows you to cancel service for virtually all telecommunications companies in Israel in 3 steps (2 minutes max), all online. As far as I'm aware, all cellphone companies, internet (infrastructure, ISP,) home phone, TV - all are available (including Golan).
Unfortunately for tourists, it's only available in Hebrew, Arabic, and Russian. I'll try sending them a message though to get them to change that and add English - maybe even offer to translate for them
jackal, did your name appear on your bill in Hebrew or in English?
Unfortunately for tourists, it's only available in Hebrew, Arabic, and Russian. I'll try sending them a message though to get them to change that and add English - maybe even offer to translate for them
jackal, did your name appear on your bill in Hebrew or in English?
Mar 29, 2014, 4:00 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,200
Nov 2, 2014, 6:36 am
#54
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEL / TLV
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 10
Beware Golan Telecom fine fine fine print
Just came back from a five week trip to Israel and used Golan Telecom as my provider. Had all sorts of problems getting the SIMS delivered to my address prior to arrival as there was an Israel Postal Strike in effect and NO mention of it on the Golan website. By 14 September, SIMS that were supposedly posted on 24 August had still failed to arrive (and in fact they have never been delivered even 9 weeks later).
On 14 Sept and after a lot of cajoling they agreed to resend my sims by FEDEX at the reasonable price of 50NIS (or about $15). No problem there and FEDEX did its job by delivering the SIMS on 15 September.
The package I signed up to (in English on their English web page) was a special at 59NIS for the first line and 26 for each additional line for the first twelve months of unlimited service with 6 GB of data a month per SIM (a great deal I thought). Package required activation within 30 days of the SIMS being sent from Golan. Activated the first four sims straight away and then waited a week or two to activate the other two as my older kids hadn't arrived in Israel. ALL Sims were activated well and truly within 30 days of 15 September when the ones I received were actually sent from Golan.
Got the first bill and it showed 59 NIS for my line, 26 for each of the other 3 lines activated straight away but 99 for the two that I activated later. AND THEN THE FUN STARTED. Polite emails to their customer service were met with obfuscation and outright lies as they asserted that 30 days meant from when they first sent the SIMS out (on 24 August) not when they FEDEXed the SIMS on 15 September (there is absolutely NO warning like this on their website or in their dense 16 pages of Hebrew terms and conditions). They also assert (contrary to their own terms and conditions) that failure to activate means that I am switched to the 99NIS package even though the one I bought was 59/26. They point blank refuse to refund the difference between the package I signed up for 26NIS a month for twelve months for additional lines and the 99NIS non package that I didn't take.
This is a company with absolutely no clue about customer service, limited English language support despite the fact that the website has English available and a phone number that requires you to dial a mobile number in Israel (at exorbitant rates) if you want to speak to a representative who has no supervisor you can speak to regardless.
I would be VERY WARY of dealing with them particularly where you are trying to arrange things in advance of your arrival. Might be ok if you buy the SIM from a shop rather than order on line but billing issues are completely beyond reasonable resolution. Three thumbs down for customer service.
On 14 Sept and after a lot of cajoling they agreed to resend my sims by FEDEX at the reasonable price of 50NIS (or about $15). No problem there and FEDEX did its job by delivering the SIMS on 15 September.
The package I signed up to (in English on their English web page) was a special at 59NIS for the first line and 26 for each additional line for the first twelve months of unlimited service with 6 GB of data a month per SIM (a great deal I thought). Package required activation within 30 days of the SIMS being sent from Golan. Activated the first four sims straight away and then waited a week or two to activate the other two as my older kids hadn't arrived in Israel. ALL Sims were activated well and truly within 30 days of 15 September when the ones I received were actually sent from Golan.
Got the first bill and it showed 59 NIS for my line, 26 for each of the other 3 lines activated straight away but 99 for the two that I activated later. AND THEN THE FUN STARTED. Polite emails to their customer service were met with obfuscation and outright lies as they asserted that 30 days meant from when they first sent the SIMS out (on 24 August) not when they FEDEXed the SIMS on 15 September (there is absolutely NO warning like this on their website or in their dense 16 pages of Hebrew terms and conditions). They also assert (contrary to their own terms and conditions) that failure to activate means that I am switched to the 99NIS package even though the one I bought was 59/26. They point blank refuse to refund the difference between the package I signed up for 26NIS a month for twelve months for additional lines and the 99NIS non package that I didn't take.
This is a company with absolutely no clue about customer service, limited English language support despite the fact that the website has English available and a phone number that requires you to dial a mobile number in Israel (at exorbitant rates) if you want to speak to a representative who has no supervisor you can speak to regardless.
I would be VERY WARY of dealing with them particularly where you are trying to arrange things in advance of your arrival. Might be ok if you buy the SIM from a shop rather than order on line but billing issues are completely beyond reasonable resolution. Three thumbs down for customer service.
Mar 10, 2016, 10:41 pm
#56
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 67
This is a company with absolutely no clue about customer service, limited English language support despite the fact that the website has English available and a phone number that requires you to dial a mobile number in Israel (at exorbitant rates) if you want to speak to a representative who has no supervisor you can speak to regardless.
I would be VERY WARY of dealing with them particularly where you are trying to arrange things in advance of your arrival. Might be ok if you buy the SIM from a shop rather than order on line but billing issues are completely beyond reasonable resolution. Three thumbs down for customer service.
I would be VERY WARY of dealing with them particularly where you are trying to arrange things in advance of your arrival. Might be ok if you buy the SIM from a shop rather than order on line but billing issues are completely beyond reasonable resolution. Three thumbs down for customer service.
Now there are stores where you can buy the sims (electronics store BUG for example) which may make it easier.
Mar 11, 2016, 1:34 am
#57
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEL / TLV
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 10
Sorry to say but they're far and above the other companies. Their english website is actually semi functional, and they've definitely gotten better with email and phone responses, but you should see the other companies in Israel...golan is by far the easiest.
Now there are stores where you can buy the sims (electronics store BUG for example) which may make it easier.
Now there are stores where you can buy the sims (electronics store BUG for example) which may make it easier.
Mar 12, 2016, 10:18 am
#58
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 67
Yes their website kind of works in English as long as you don't want to read 8 pages of Hebrew legalese when you click on the terms and conditions. Their phone customer service is a joke. The English option puts you in the general queue and 9/10 the person who picks up after 20 minutes on hold doesn't speak English. And the icing on the cake this trip was a faulty sim purchased from a retail outlet WOULD NOT be replaced unless I paid the full price of the SIM Another two hours on the phone to get the cost refunded. Yes they're cheap and as long as you never need to contact them you should be ok BUT they are still a crappy company who could care less about customer service
Mar 13, 2016, 1:26 am
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
Sorry to say but they're far and above the other companies. Their english website is actually semi functional, and they've definitely gotten better with email and phone responses, but you should see the other companies in Israel...golan is by far the easiest.
Now there are stores where you can buy the sims (electronics store BUG for example) which may make it easier.
Now there are stores where you can buy the sims (electronics store BUG for example) which may make it easier.
In terms of reception, they are the absolute worst among the 5 networks. Dropped calls, SMS that don't get sent, slow internet, etc.
Jun 21, 2016, 2:18 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: Landry's President's Club, Marriott Silver, Awesomeness EXPLT
Posts: 20,457
Friend's daughter is going to be traveling to Israel for 2 weeks in Aug using an Iphone 5. What's the best pre-paid option for her as the wiki is now almost two years ago.
Cheers
Howie
Cheers
Howie