Three networks, cheap prepaid, and a passport plus a photograph required to register. Claro has the coverage once you leave the resort strip.
- Claro has the best national coverage and is the one to pick if you leave the tourist areas; Altice is competitive in cities and resort zones, Viva cheapest and thinnest.
- A Claro prepaid SIM is about RD$ 150, and Altice's tourist package is around RD$ 550 for roughly 15 GB with calls - the straightforward option for a week or two.
- Bring your passport and expect to be photographed. Prepaid SIMs must be registered to a named person, staff copy the passport, and it is not optional.
- Coverage thins fast in the mountains and the far southwest - the Cordillera Central, Pedernales and parts of the Samaná interior have real gaps.
- Resort wifi is often poor and sometimes charged, so a local SIM usually beats paying the hotel. An eSIM such as Saily skips the registration desk at a higher price per gigabyte.
Which network
| Operator | Notes |
|---|---|
| Claro | Best national coverage. The one to pick if you leave the tourist areas |
| Altice | Competitive tourist bundles, good in cities and resort zones |
| Viva | Cheapest, thinnest coverage |
- A Claro prepaid SIM costs about RD$ 150. Altice frequently gives the SIM away and sells short data bundles from around RD$ 50.
- Altice's tourist package is around RD$ 550 for roughly 15 GB with calls and texts, which is the straightforward option for a one or two week stay.
- Bring your passport, and expect to be photographed. Prepaid SIMs must be registered to a named person here. Staff take a copy of the passport and usually a photo of you. It takes a few minutes and it is not optional.
- Kiosks at Punta Cana and Las Américas airports sell and activate on the spot, which is the least painful route.
Coverage and the resort trap
- Coverage is good along the south coast, in Santo Domingo, Santiago and the resort corridors, and 4G is the norm with 5G in the cities.
- It thins out fast in the mountains and the far southwest. The Cordillera Central, Pedernales and parts of the Samaná interior have real gaps.
- Resort wifi is often poor and sometimes charged. A local SIM is usually better than paying the hotel, and much better than roaming.
- An eSIM from a travel provider such as Saily works and skips the registration desk entirely, at a higher price per gigabyte. For a week in an all-inclusive that is a fair trade; for a longer or more mobile trip, buy local.
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