Digicel Jamaica is a local mobile network that allows tourists and locals to communicate at convenient fares. Although Sim cards can be purchased before arriving in Jamaica, we discovered it is much cheaper to purchase one from a local store.
Image via Manman Pemba
Digicel Jamaica Services and Benefits for Tourists
Tourists who travel to Jamaica for a week or more might find using a Digicel sim card more convenient. Although there is no Digicel booth in none of the Jamaican airports at the moment, there are over 100 stores on the island. Keep in mind you will need an ID to purchase a sim card in Jamaica.
A new Digicel sim costs less than U.S. $10 and usually lasts enough to communicate with other members of your party during a one-week trip. If it doesn’t, here is how you can top up a Digicel phone number:
Digicel Jamaica Top Up
There are 3 ways you can send top ups to another Digicel user or to your own phone:
1. Digicel Jamaica Online Top Up
The most convenient method is using the Digicel Jamaica.com website and following the instructions listed in the “Online Top Up” section. After entering the details like the phone number you want to top up (yours or another Digicel user’s) and the amount, you can proceed to the login page, review your order, and pay online.
2. Digicel Jamaica Automatic Top Up
The automatic Digicel top up Jamaica service allows you to schedule top ups for any number in the Digicel network. You can do so by saving your card details after an online top up and creating an automated top up process from the main menu. The only details you need to complete are the phone number, top up amount, and frequency.
3. Digicel Jamaica Fingertip Top Up
The fingertip top up makes use of your mobile and requires saved card details in the Digicel system. You will receive a token code which you will use to top up any phone number in the Digicel network, including yours.
Attention! Only some of the Digicel Sim cards can be topped up. Digicel also sells one-time use sim cards which can only be used to make calls from while they have minutes, so pay attention to this aspect when making a purchase.
Digicel Jamaica Top Up – Payment
At the moment of writing, Digicel did not support American Express payments. However, the company allows payments from credit cards in other currencies than JMD, like U.S. dollars or Euros.
Digicel Phones in Jamaica
If you do not have an extra mobile phone to put your Digicel sim in and want to keep your own phone number active at all times, you can purchase a Digicel phone from any store you find. Apart from the latest smartphones which will help you use the included data services, you can also find basic phones that will be more than enough to make calls from, for less than U.S. $50 per device. An ID is needed to purchase a phone in Jamaica.
Image via My Thoughts on Technology and Jamaica
Digicel Jamaica WebTEXT
If you have free Wi-Fi at your accommodation, you will find the WebTEXT service extremely useful. This smart feature allows users to send up to 30 free text messages per month from their easy-to-use web platform. All you need to do is register with your Digicel ID (your phone number and password), type in the receiver’s phone number and the text message, and send it away.
Digicel Jamaica Reviews
From what we could gather, many customers feel deceived by some practices like selling one-time use sim cards which are only good for one phone call. Therefore, keep this in mind when visiting a Digicel store and specifically ask for a Sim you can top up after you spend the originally-included minutes and enquire on any hidden costs you might not know about.
It appears the Digicel Jamaica customer service has limited access to a user’s account and cannot perform certain modifications or refunds, even if it’s the right thing to do.
We noticed that most of the Digicel reviews online are negative and accuse the company of being deceitful. However, we need to take into account that most customers who did not have issues with their Digicel service usually do not leave a feedback for others to see – so the company might not be as bad as the internet portrays it.
Alternatives
If you are not happy with what you read online about Digicel Jamaica, you can try out Flow Jamaica. It has almost 100 stores all over the island, including smaller cities where remote resorts can be found.
Image via Flow
Network Information for Jamaica
Here’s some extra information for tech-savvy readers:
While in Jamaica, you can use devices with the following operating frequency bands to their full potential:
- 2G: GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900.
- 3G: UMTS 850.
- 4G: LTE 700 (17), LTE 1700 (4), LTE 2100 (4).
These were the facts on Digicel Jamaica. We hope you are now able to make an informed decision regarding your trip to Jamaica, whether you choose Digicel or not.