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Croatia has a high mobile phone (mobitel) penetration rate. Almost everyone has a mobile phone, and mobile phones can even used to perform transactions such as purchasing a tram ticket or paying parking fees.

The GSM band in Croatia is 900/1800, as in the rest of Europe. If you are moving from North America or South America, you may be unable to use your mobile phone in Croatia. Basic mobile phones are affordable, however, and can be purchased at news-stands, post offices, and gas stations.

Providers

There are five mobile phone providers in Croatia:

• T-com
• Tele2
• Vip
• BonBon (uses T-com's network)
• Tomato (uses Vip's network)

Contracts

Each provider offers several different service plans. Prepaid plans often require you to sign a contract, although occasionally there are exceptions. If you don't plan to be in Croatia for an extended period of time, make sure you choose a flexible plan or perhaps opt to pay as you go.

There are some basic points to consider when choosing a plan.

• Personal Use: Evaluate how much you use the phone, when, where you are calling, how often you use short message services (SMS), if you use the phone abroad, etc.
• Coverage: Most important if you live in a remote place or regularly using the mobile while traveling in the countryside as most companies offer decent coverage.
• Fees & Rates: Each operator offers several different plans and options. Investigate the plans carefully and evaluate your needs.

Pay As You Go

Every mobile phone provider offers prepaid or pay as you go options. This is a great option for expats and tourists visiting Croatia because it's a very simple process and rates are affordable.

You can purchase a SIM card for most providers from news-stands. Once you purchase your SIM card, you can put it in your phone (provided your phone is unlocked for use with any provider) and start making calls. To upgrade to a prepaid plan with better rates, you must add credit to your account and then text the name of the plan you want to a specified number. Information about different prepaid plans can be found online on the provider's website.

To add credit to your account, purchase a "bon" from the news-stand and dial the numerical code, which will credit your account. You can also purchase bons at most ATMs and grocery stores.