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Mobile Networks Networks

THere are four primary mobile phone networks in Ireland:

- VodaFone
- O2
- Meteor
- Three

with one MVNO

- Tesco Mobile

GSM handsets and frequencies

In Ireland VodaFone, O2, and Meteor run both 2G and 3G networks. 2G is on GSM 900/1800 MHz, 3G on 1900/2100.

www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_ie.shtml

Any standard GSM handset capable of 2G or 3G will work in Ireland.

SIM Card Size

All networks suppy SIM cards in a full size (ISO-0) package. A "Mini" SIM can be popped out for most modern phones. Some operators have micro SIMs (for iPad).

Lots of detail here

Getting a pre-pay SIM

Walk into most larger newagents' shops, supermarkets, or mobile phone stores, and ask for one. There are no requirements for ID, address, residence - pay cash, get SIM card.

Meteor will send you a free SIM card, but only to addresses in the Republic of Ireland.
VodaFone have a Prepay SIM Pack which gives you a new number, and costs €9.99 online. You get €0.50 preloaded credit.
Tesco Mobile charges €2.50 online for their SIM card. Delivery to an Irish address.
ThreeThree has a free SIM that they also ship to Irish addresses.

Bonus top-up credit

Many SIM cards come with little or no credit pre-loaded. Many networks give you a bonus (€5 or €10) for signing up at their website.

A second mechanism is they offer monthly bonus, €10 a month for 6 months, as long as you top-up every one of those six months by a minimum amount, say €20. For 6 months loyalty, you get 50% extra free.

Tesco have BOGOF promotion

There are also occasional offers, linked to internet banking or ATM top-up, where you can get 10% or 20% extra credit for a minimum amount, usually €20 or more.

Terms and conditions apply.

Which Price Plan

.. What do you mean there are multiple pre-pay plans? I hear you cry.

Yes, there are many plans within each network. An excellent independent place to look is Call Costs, which is operated by the Irish Telecom Regulator.

Tesco "Anyone, Anytime Price Plan" http://www.tescomobile.ie/OurPricePlans.aspx
o2 http://www.o2online.ie/shop/plans/
VodaFone http://www.vodafone.ie/planscosts/prepay/current/
Meteor http://www.meteor.ie/plans/pay_as_you_go/
Three http://www.three.ie/priceplans/3pay....dex-3pay-angel

Getting topped up

All news agents, post offices, phone shops and quite a few other shops will sell you a "top-up code". These are generally in €5, €10, €15 and €20 denominations. You generally ask for a "€xyz top up voucher for an 08x mobile" where 08x is the national dialling code for your network:

086 - O2
087 - VodaFone
083 - Three
085 - Meteor
082 - Tesco Mobile

Having number porting for the past few years, the national dialling code you see for someone's phone might not actually be that network. You can get 086 numbers on the VodaFone network for example. Confusing?

If you have an Irish ATM card, it's possible that your bank will have top-up at ATM for your network, or it's available as part of your internet banking.

Quite a few shops have vending machines selling top-up credit.

When you get your top-up voucher, you need to dial a short number on your phone, and enter the long stream digits from the voucher.

Pre-pay Broadband

Many of you will arrive in the country with a data hungry device, such as iPhone or Nexus One. Can suggest the following...

Short < 5 days

Three http://www.three.ie/broadband/3pay.htm - €5 per day, 500MB Max per day.

O2 http://www.o2online.ie/shop/broadband/mobile/ - €3.97 per day, 500MB Max per day.

VodaFone http://www.vodafone.ie/vlive/cost/ - €0.99 per day 50MB Max

Meteor http://www.meteor.ie/bbtg/payg/ €2.99 perday 500 MB Max

Medium 1 - 2 Weeks

Three http://www.three.ie/broadband/3pay.htm - €10 per week, 2GB Max.

Long (Monthly)

O2 http://www.o2online.ie/shop/broadband/mobile/ - €19.90 per month, 5GB Max

Three http://www.three.ie/broadband/3pay.htm - €25 per month, 10GB Max

Vodafone http://www.vodafone.ie/vlive/internetmobile/ - as low as €12.09 for a month, but terms and conditions apply.

Meteor http://www.meteor.ie/bbtg/payg/ €19.99 7.5GB Max

Not recommended for data

Tesco Mobile - http://www.tescomobile.ie/MobileInternet.aspx Does not support 3G speeds

At the airports - Getting a SIM

Dublin

Since VodaFone closed their store at the airport, I think the only place you can get a SIM is the shop between the 'A' and 'B' car parks. Exit customs, head slightly to the right and exit the airport building by the end of the taxi rank. Cross over the road, and enter the building between the sets of parking payment machines. In here is a shop.

Cork

Try the Londis, located on the lower level in the Arrivals Hall, next to the Information Desk.

Shannon

Again, a Londis, or WHSmith on check-in area.

APN Details

According to this thread on boards.ie, using the live.vodafone.com APN will charge roaming data at a max of 99c per day up to 50MB. This 99c cost is referenced also in the European SIM thread.