The easiest way to get online in Timor-Leste is a local prepaid SIM (or eSIM) from Telemor, Timor Telecom or Telkomcel: it costs about US$1, you register it with your passport, and a week of data costs from US$1–5. All three operators sell SIMs and data packages in Dili, prices are in US dollars, and local data is far cheaper than roaming on your home SIM.
Quick answers
| Question | Answer (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Mobile operators | Telemor, Timor Telecom (TT) and Telkomcel |
| SIM card price | US$1 for a Telemor SIM; US$1 for a TT eSIM |
| What you need | Your passport: prepaid SIMs must be registered (Decree-Law 9/2008) |
| Where to buy | Operator shops in Dili (Timor Plaza and others), a TT kiosk at Dili airport |
| eSIM | Yes, from Timor Telecom and Telemor, set up in store |
| Typical data price | TT: 5 GB for 7 days, US$1. Telemor: 26 GB for 7 days, US$3 |
| Currency | US dollars, see our money guide |
| Atauro | No operator lists a shop on the island, so buy your SIM and top up in Dili |
Which operator should you choose?
All three operators sell prepaid SIMs to visitors and have shops across the country. Their published prices are close, so pick based on where you are going and which shop is nearest.
| Operator | Strengths | Shops (per operator’s site) | Customer care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telemor | Says it launched the first nationwide 4G service (2017) and 5G in July 2025; wide range of cheap data packs | 3 showrooms in Dili and centres in 12 other municipalities, including Oecusse | 188 · +670 7618 8188 (WhatsApp) |
| Timor Telecom (TT) | Simple weekly and monthly plans; kiosk at Dili airport; eSIM for US$1 | Timor Plaza, Hotel Timor, airport kiosk and 12 shops outside Dili | +670 330 3000 |
| Telkomcel | ”Plaza Telkomcel” customer centres in every district; app-based top-ups | Timor Plaza (2nd floor) and Colmera in Dili, plus district plazas | 123 · +670 7474 7474 (WhatsApp) |
Practical tip: if you are heading into the mountains or along the south coast, ask in the shop which network works best in the specific towns on your route. Coverage varies a lot from place to place, and no operator publishes a detailed coverage map.
What you need to buy a SIM
- Your passport. Under Government Decree-Law No. 9/2008, every prepaid number must be registered with a valid ID; for foreigners this is a passport. Telemor and Telkomcel both say unregistered SIMs are blocked or suspended.
- An unlocked phone. A phone locked to your home network will not accept a local SIM or eSIM.
- A compatible phone for Telkomcel 3G. Telkomcel’s 3G network uses the 850 MHz band, and its FAQ asks you to check that your handset supports it.
- Cash in US dollars. Small notes are easiest for a US$1 SIM and a few dollars of credit.
You can register in store. Telemor also accepts registration by sending your ID to its WhatsApp number (+670 7618 8188), and Telkomcel by WhatsApp to +670 7474 7474.
Where to buy
- Dili airport: Timor Telecom lists a kiosk (Quiosque Aeroporto) at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport. Opening hours are not published, so don’t count on it being open for late arrivals. See our Dili airport guide.
- Timor Plaza (Dili): TT, Telemor and Telkomcel all have shops or offices in this shopping centre, so it is the easiest place to compare.
- Elsewhere in Dili: TT at Hotel Timor; Telkomcel at Rua Nicolau Lobato No. 19, Colmera; Telemor showrooms around the city.
- Outside Dili: all three operators have shops in most municipal capitals; TT and Telkomcel both list Baucau, Maliana, Suai, Same, Lospalos and Oecusse, among others.
- Atauro: none of the three operators lists a shop on the island. Buy your SIM and enough credit in Dili before taking the boat. See our Atauro Island guide.
Shops and authorised agents also sell top-up vouchers (“pulsa”), so you rarely need to go back to an official store after buying the SIM.
Data package prices (October 2026)
Prices below come from the operators’ own websites, checked on 25 October 2026. Packages change often, so confirm in store.
Timor Telecom (TT) prepaid plans
| Plan | Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic weekly | 5 GB | 7 days | US$1.00 |
| Start weekly | 8 GB | 7 days | US$1.50 |
| Power Plus weekly | 40 GB | 7 days | US$5.00 |
| Basic monthly | 20 GB | 30 days | US$4.00 |
| Plus monthly | 60 GB | 30 days | US$10.00 |
| Power Plus monthly | 160 GB | 30 days | US$20.00 |
All TT plans include minutes and SMS to other TT numbers. Activate them by SMS to 8302 (e.g. “BA” for Basic weekly, “BAF” for Basic monthly) or in store.
Telemor data packages
| Package | Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| DU | Unlimited | 24 hours | US$1 |
| T1 | 5 GB | 3 days | US$1 |
| T3 | 26 GB | 7 days | US$3 |
| 5G5 | 35 GB (5G areas) | 7 days | US$5 |
| T11 | 105 GB | 30 days | US$11 |
| T15 | 150 GB | 30 days | US$15 |
A new Telemor SIM comes with a 7-day welcome bonus of 500 MB plus 50 on-net minutes and 50 SMS. To activate a new Telemor SIM, call 123 and press 2 for English. The 5G packages work only inside Telemor’s 5G coverage area.
Telkomcel
Telkomcel sells its “Rapido” data packages through the menu *123*3#, by SMS to 155 or in the MyTelkomcel app. The full package list on its website is dated January 2022, so check current prices in store or with the call centre (123). Always buy a package: data used outside a package is charged at US$0.045 per MB.
How these compare with our budget figures: our money guide budgets US$5–15 for a local SIM with data. That covers a SIM plus a month of data on any of the three networks; a SIM with a single week of data can cost as little as US$2–4.
eSIM in Timor-Leste
- Timor Telecom: the TT eSIM costs US$1, whether new or a replacement. You must visit a TT store with your ID, pay, then scan a QR code while connected to Wi-Fi. Your phone must be eSIM-compatible and unlocked.
- Telemor: has officially launched eSIM and activates it by QR code. Ask at a Telemor showroom; the website does not give a separate price.
- Telkomcel: its website does not mention eSIM. Check with the operator.
International travel-eSIM apps also sell Timor-Leste data plans that you can install before you fly. They are usually data-only and cost more per GB than local packages. Check which local network they use before buying.
Top-ups and checking your balance
| Operator | Top up | Check balance |
|---|---|---|
| Telemor | Voucher: *120*PIN#, or online at pulsa.telemor.tl / Mosan app | *121# (credit), *122# (bonus and data) |
| Timor Telecom | ”Pulsa Lais” vouchers at shops and agents (5% bonus), or at some ATMs | TT Extras codes, or ask in store |
| Telkomcel | Voucher: *122*code#, or MyTelkomcel app | *122# (credit), *122*3# (data quota) |
Unused data is lost when a package expires. On Telkomcel, buying the same package again before it expires adds the remaining quota to the new one.
Roaming with your home SIM
Your home SIM may work in Timor-Leste on roaming, but check your provider’s rates and whether it has a partner network here before relying on it. Roaming data is usually much more expensive than a US$1 local SIM. A good option is to keep your home SIM in for bank SMS codes and use a local eSIM or a second SIM for data.
Wi-Fi, speeds and reliability
- Hotels and guesthouses in Dili usually offer Wi-Fi, but speed varies widely. If you need to work or make video calls, ask your accommodation before booking. See where to stay.
- Cafés and restaurants: some places in Dili have Wi-Fi, but free public Wi-Fi is rare. A local data package is more dependable.
- Mobile data is generally your most reliable connection, especially outside Dili.
- Outside Dili signal can drop in mountain valleys, on remote stretches of the south coast and at sea. Download offline maps and save key phone numbers before you leave Dili.
- WhatsApp is the main way guesthouses, drivers and tour operators communicate, so set it up on your local number.
For emergencies and how local phone numbers work, see our emergency numbers guide. For more planning tips, read the practical travel guide.
Sources
- Telemor — SIM card, eSIM and registration (Produtu: SIM & Númeru)
- Telemor — Mobile data packages
- Telemor — Store locator
- Telemor — Our journey (4G 2017, 5G 2025)
- Timor Telecom — Prepaid plans (Móvel Pré-Pagu)
- Timor Telecom — TT eSIM
- Timor Telecom — Stores (Lojas)
- Telkomcel — Prepaid SIM card and registration
- Telkomcel — Internet Rapido Demais packages
- Telkomcel — Plaza Telkomcel locations
- Telkomcel — FAQ