For balikbayans wanting to spend some time in the motherland (and perhaps wondering about internet connectivity here), you’ll be happy to know the Philippines is progressively moving to better and better internet connectivity options. Having a stable mobile connection is a must for a traveler, and we at KUBO have everything you need to know about staying connected while enjoying your PH visit.
SIM Registration
Before we dive into the many options for mobile connectivity, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: SIM registration. For those who don’t know, Republic Act 11934, or the SIM Registration Act or the SIM Card Law, was enacted back in September 2022 to help curb cybercriminal activities, hate speech, trolling, and the spread of online disinformation. What this means is that before you get to use a Philippine SIM card to go online, you will need to register it first.
Fortunately for balikbayans or foreign visitors, there are pre-registered prepaid SIM cards that are readily available for purchase at any SIM card kiosk usually found inside airports. If in case you get a SIM card that needs registration, the friendly staff at these kiosks will walk you through the process. It’s free to register a prepaid SIM card, but keep your passport ready in case proof of identity is needed.
But before you even hop on the plane bound for home, you might want to check if your mobile service provider might have roaming plans and options available for your account. We recommend checking those out so you have an idea about the cost and if it will be more convenient for you to just use roaming.
Prepaid SIMs for the balikbayan on the go
When it comes to prepaid SIMs, balikbayans have a decent number of options nowadays depending on your connectivity needs. Mainstays like Globe and Smart have SIMs available, and a number of plans to go with your chosen SIM brand. Do note that these plans are limited to the amount of data you consume (in gigabytes or GB) within a set number of days. If you plan on leaving your mobile internet on all the time during your stay, expect that you will get a text message reminder about your data consumption.
Globe has a Traveler SIM that already has data, unlimited (“unli”) calls and texts, and even eSIM options for mobile phones that support the feature (like the more recent iPhones). These SIMs come in PHP300 (10GB), PHP500 (20GB), and PHP1,000 (40GB) variants and are valid for seven, 15, and 30 days, respectively. You can even pre-order the eSIM variant before your flight. If you plan to get the actual SIM card, we at KUBO suggest visiting a Globe kiosk at the airport or making a quick detour to a Globe Store in a mall closest to your location to inquire about it so you can get the best possible assistance. Check out more of the Traveler SIM here.
Meanwhile, Smart has the POWERALL promos that can address your connectivity needs. These start at PHP50 for five days with 5GB of data, all the way up to PHP899 for 90 days with 60GB of data bundled with unli-call and text to all networks. For more information, check out their plans here.
KUBO tip: While Smart has sister brand TNT and Globe has TM, we at KUBO recommend considering the Smart and Globe products respectively, as the plans and packages for TNT and TM are geared for subscribers actually living in the Philippines. While their plans are cheap, their validity ranges from 1-5 days, making you spend more to stay connected.
Newcomer telco brand GOMO has an interesting proposition: Order the SIM in advance and get it delivered to the location of your choice! GOMO doesn’t have brick and mortar stores, which is why they offer to deliver the SIM card to your location for free. Their plans are cheap as well. For PHP399, you can get 30GB of data with no expiry. However, that comes with the caveat of no calls and texts. Should you wish to have the freedom to just call and text friends and family, they have a slightly more expensive PHP499 option with 25GB of data, 100 minutes’ worth of calls, and 500 texts. All GOMO plans have no expiry; as long as you have data, the service won’t get cut off. GOMO also has the added convenience of having their prepaid SIMs already pre-registered. Check out GOMO plans and how to purchase the SIM here.
Another relatively new provider called DITO has thrown their hat in the game by providing similar plans for their prepaid SIMs. Their Unli5G plans promise unlimited 5G internet connection where DITO signal is available. However, when you are out of range and your signal quality dips to 4G (only slightly slower, no worries), their PHP299 plan has 10GB of data for seven days. Their PHP499 plan has 4G internet connectivity with 20GB worth of data for 15 days, while their PHP599 plan has 50GB of 4G internet valid for 30 days. More information on their plans here.
Family and friends bundle: The pocket WiFi
For balikbayans traveling with family or friends from abroad, getting a pocket WiFi is an option so multiple devices can simultaneously connect with no hassle and no problems with connection speed.
KUBO tip: Smartphones nowadays actually have multiple connectivity features that allow many devices to piggyback on your lone mobile internet signal. How to turn it on and fix the password for this feature can be usually found in your phone’s “Mobile Hotspot” settings.
If you’re still set on getting a pocket WiFi device, Smart has the slight upper hand here. Their tried and tested pocket WiFi now boasts LTE speeds (the fastest WiFi connection type in the country), with a starting price of PHP995 and can connect up to five devices. Their Pocket WiFi Advanced product has twice the LTE speed of the baseline variant and even comes with a car charger for PHP1,495, good for up to 10 devices. Their 5G Pocket Pro comes in at a whopping PHP12,995 and pumps out 5G mobile internet speeds for up to 15 devices (more information on device specs here).
Unfortunately, other telco brands just offer home-based WiFi devices, plans, and options. These are large, not pocket-friendly, and really tailored for staying at home—something balikbayans may not be doing for most of their trip.
Alternatively, there are brands like Big Sky Nation and Klook that offer pocket WiFi services for rent. Big Sky Nation has pocket WiFi rental plans that start at around PHP150 per day with a 150MB (note: MEGAbytes, not GIGAbytes) limit, all the way up to PHP590 per day on a 4G mobile internet connection with no limit. Their rental products allow for up to five devices to be connected at a given time.
Klook has an expanded rental scheme that covers multiple countries in Southeast Asia. Made for the jetsetting balikbayan in mind, these can run you up to USD8.75 per day for 4G unlimited mobile internet. Like most basic pocket WiFi devices, Klook’s can connect up to five devices at a time.
If your itinerary doesn’t involve flying out of the Philippines, we at KUBO recommend that you just get a prepaid SIM and use your phone as a mobile hotspot when you need other devices to connect to the internet. These are fast, easy, and don’t come with the additional worry of keeping the rental device safe and in working condition when you return it.
Malling while online: More fun in the Philippines
For balikbayans who will stay and move around the city, no trip would be complete without ducking into the mall for a family meal or to just walk around. While most Starbucks branches in malls now offer WiFi you can connect to, the malls themselves also now offer two hours of free WiFi connection.
SM Malls make it easy to connect to their free WiFi. Just connect to the hotspot marked “@SMFreeWifi” and you’re good to go! Here is a list of SM Malls with this feature.
Meanwhile, all Robinsons malls now boast two hours of free WiFi. Like at SM, just look for the Robinsons Malls Free WiFi hotspot and start browsing. You can also download the RMalls+ app on your smartphone to get longer WiFi access and even discounts on your parking and other conveniences.
Ayala Malls also has free WiFi. Thanks to their partnership with telco provider Globe, mallgoers can enjoy free WiFi and access to Accelerator, a feature baked into apps like YouTube to enable faster video streams. To access, just look for the GoWifi hotspot, connect, register your phone number to the site that automatically opens, and you’re good to go. Like Robinsons, Ayala Malls also offer their own A-Portal app to browse for good deals at stores, restaurants, and even secure movie tickets. However, for additional safety, we at KUBO recommend you use your own mobile internet connection.
If you’re planning to stay at a hotel, you’d be happy to know five-, four-, and even three-star hotels—ranging from Okada Manila, Solaire, Richmonde Hotel (Ortigas, Eastwood, and Iloilo), Savoy Hotel (Manila, Mactan, and Boracay), and the Shangri-La hotels (The Fort/BGC, EDSA, and Makati), to even Red Planet, Hop Inn, and more—offer free WiFi to their guests. These usually come with your pass card or instructions that are already waiting for you in your room.
While the Philippines has improved its mobile internet connectivity in recent years, these boosts of service are usually within Metro Manila and other major cities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. If you’re traveling to more remote provinces in the country, remember that cellphone sites and towers still don’t have full nationwide coverage, and natural terrain like mountains and forests can block signals.
