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On average, there is a telephone in every household in Jamaica.

There is a choice between two network carriers for mobile and fixed phones, and for pre- and post-paid service. They are Digicel and Flow.

Generally what you need for a service contract with your choice of phone is a valid ID and, in the case of a mobile phone service, a sim card. If the sim card you have was inactive for the previous six months, you may be required to buy another or reactivate it. Network service is almost available everywhere in the island and even on the near seas according to some providers.

The full range of Voice, Data and Internet Protocol (IP) Services are available in Jamaica from the existing providers of telecommunication services. This includes

• International Calling
• Roaming
• Complete Data Support
• Cloud services
• Hosted E-mail Service
• Dedicated Internet Access
• Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Internet/ Network-based customized VPN
• Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS)
• Metro Ethernet
• International Private Leased Circuits (IPLCs)
• Conferencing and Video Conference
• Personal telepresence service
• Virtual Office
• Data recovery
• Mitel® 1000
• PBX Support
• Business line and VOIP Support

The telephone number format is a 7-digit code (xxx-xxxx). The area code is 876; the full 10-digit number format is xxx-xxx-xxxx. No need to use area code when calling locally. To call USA, Canada and the Caribbean use +1, the area code and 7-digit number. To call Europe and the rest of the world, use 011, the area code and 7-digit number. Calling rates are competitive and vary by service provider and calling destination.

Providers

The providers are

• Digicel
• Flow

Most people use prepaid cell phone. Prepaid accounts are also available for fixed lines. vendors of talk time (airtime) credit for the two major carriers can be found everywhere. You can purchase airtime for a wide range of price points - $100, 200 etc., and you then load the time onto your phone directly. Loading airtime on your phone will give you access to both calls and internet data.

Contracts

Contracts can be established easily with local providers. Often, it just requires a short visit to a retail shop. Some packages include preferable rates for long distance phone calls and higher internet usage. There are some basic points you need to consider for choosing the right deal.

• 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.