Using a mobile phone in Ecuador is easy. Take the phone you have from your country. There is a good chance that if it is a newer model GSM phone with quad band, it will work in Ecuador. Try this first, go to the Porta or Movistar outlets that sell phones in the city you are in and ask them if they have a ‘SIM card’ that will work for your phone. They’ll try it and if it works, great because it doesn’t get any easier than this. Remember that to do this you must have an unlocked phone. I will not go into details because you can search for this information on the Internet. If the SIM card works in your phone, just buy a top-up to top up your phone’s minutes. This is the same as prepaid minutes. Both Porta and Movistar use this concept. If you want and you are going to stay for a long time, you can also choose a plan.
If the sim option doesn’t work for your phone, you’ll need to buy a phone there. There’s a lot to choose from, and the best phones don’t come cheap. Expect to pay US prices. However, if you’re not picky about your phone, there’s a good basic type of phone you can get with Movistar and Porta for around $50.00 USD. Both companies have an Amigo kit that will give you a basic phone and a few minutes of conversation. Time to start.
Cell coverage in Ecuador is relatively good for a developing country. The main cities, such as Quito and Guayaquil, have general coverage. In the Andes, valleys often have very patchy coverage, while a signal can usually be found on top of hills and ridges. The main coastal tourist areas are really well connected. Smaller communities may have weak or no coverage. Remote parts of the Amazon basin are generally not covered. As companies build more cell towers, coverage across the country is expected to improve. Lately, more money is being invested in infrastructure projects throughout the country. Ecuador is heavily dependent on tourism, so expect things to change in the future.
The simplicity of having a mobile phone in Ecuador makes it easy for you to get one even if you don’t speak the language. Worst case scenario you spend $50.00 on a starter phone.