Internet and SIM cards in the Seychelles: what to know before you board

In the Seychelles, two mobile operators cover the archipelago with 4G: Airtel Seychelles, with the widest network, and Cable & Wireless Seychelles. A prepaid SIM card can be bought as soon as you arrive at Mahe airport with your passport, from 3 euros. On a catamaran cruise, the signal stays available at coastal anchorages, gradually fading once you pass 5 nautical miles from the main islands.

Which mobile operators are available in the Seychelles?

In the Seychelles, two operators share the entire mobile network: Airtel Seychelles and Cable & Wireless Seychelles. Both cover the main islands with 4G, with Airtel offering the widest coverage across the archipelago. The country code is +248.

Airtel Seychelles has the best geographic coverage: Mahe, Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette and Cerf Island. 4G is available across all of these islands. Data plans start at around 1.30 euros for 250 MB over 5 days (~19 SCR) and go up to around 133 euros for 70 GB valid for 30 days (~1,999 SCR). Combined data, calls and SMS options are available.

Cable & Wireless Seychelles (C&W) offers solid coverage on the main islands and in tourist areas. 4G speeds reach 10 to 40 Mbps, and 5G is available in Victoria and a few limited areas of Mahe, up to 150 Mbps. C&W plans range from 50 MB over 7 days (around 1.60 euros, ~24 SCR) to 65 GB over 30 days (around 113 euros, ~1,699 SCR). Data offers and call/SMS offers are separate, with no native combo.

Where to buy a SIM card when you arrive in the Seychelles?

The simplest option: an Airtel kiosk and a Cable & Wireless kiosk are waiting at Mahe International Airport (SEZ), just past the baggage claim area, and your passport is required to buy one. You can activate your SIM straight away before heading to your catamaran.

If the queue at the airport is long, official stores for both operators can be found in downtown Victoria. Authorised resellers and some supermarkets on Mahe and Praslin also sell prepaid SIM cards. The SIM card alone (activation fee) costs between 50 and 100 SCR, or roughly 3 to 7 euros. Note: there is no operator store on every island, so it is best to get your SIM in Mahe as soon as you arrive.

A handy option: pre-ordering via the Travel Authorization Seychelles form (seychelles.govtas.com). There you can order a physical SIM or an eSIM, delivered directly to the operator kiosk when you step off the plane.

Which data plan should you choose for your stay?

For a 7 to 14 day cruise in the Seychelles, a plan of 2 to 7 GB covers everyday use: WhatsApp, Google Maps, marine weather and social media. With Airtel, expect around 20 euros for 1.5 GB (~299 SCR) or around 70 euros for 7 GB (~999 SCR). With C&W, 2 GB over 30 days comes to around 13 euros (~199 SCR).

Plans have a fixed duration (from 1 day to 30 days) and do not renew automatically. A top-up in store is possible if you exceed your allowance. For regular streaming or video calls from the cockpit, go for 15 GB minimum, or an unlimited-data eSIM if your phone supports it.

Is eSIM available in the Seychelles?

Yes, eSIM works in the Seychelles on the Airtel and Cable & Wireless networks. For a cruise, this is a real advantage: the eSIM activates before you leave, with no physical handling on board. Your home number stays available in parallel (dual profile).

Compatibility depends on your phone, so check it under Settings > Mobile Data before buying (iPhone XS and later, Samsung Galaxy S21+, Google Pixel 3+ are compatible). You receive a QR code by email after purchase, to scan to activate the profile on landing. Specialist international eSIM providers offer deals from around 8 to 12 euros for 1 GB, up to unlimited plans at around 25 euros per week. An eSIM is not transferable from one phone to another, so check compatibility before buying.

What is the network coverage island by island?

4G coverage is reliable on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, decreasing on the less-visited inner islands and becoming almost non-existent on the outer islands or out at sea.

The three main islands: Mahe has the best infrastructure, with 4G everywhere and 5G (Cable & Wireless) in Victoria and Beau Vallon. Praslin offers good 4G coverage. La Digue has a 3G/4G connection that varies by area. Cerf Island and Silhouette are covered by Airtel.

The more remote islands: Bird Island, Denis Island, Fregate and Felicite have a signal that varies by operator. The outer islands, Amirantes, Aldabra and Farquhar, have no land-based mobile coverage. Only a satellite connection is feasible there. When sailing between the islands, the mobile signal weakens gradually and disappears at around 5 nautical miles from the coast.

How to stay connected aboard your catamaran?

At anchor within 5 miles of the coast, your local SIM usually picks up the network of the main islands. In marinas and sheltered anchorages, the Wi-Fi from the base or coastal restaurants can take over.

From a catamaran cruising in the Seychelles, connectivity follows your proximity to the coast. At anchor at Eden Island (Mahe) or Port de la Passe (Praslin), 4G is fully available and the marina Wi-Fi fills in if needed. In open sailing, the mobile signal weakens beyond 3 to 5 nautical miles. Between Praslin and Curieuse, or approaching the inner islands, expect an intermittent connection.

The good practice before getting under way: download what you will need once at an isolated anchorage. Offline maps with Maps.me or Navionics, weather forecasts and wind routing with Windy, PDF anchorage guides. Restaurants and coastal venues on the main islands almost always offer a free Wi-Fi hotspot for stopovers. A Wi-Fi booster antenna can amplify the hotspot signal up to 1 or 2 miles from shore, a useful option for longer cruises.

On the outer islands and out towards the Amirantes or Aldabra, you are fully disconnected, and that is precisely one of the appeals of these isolated anchorages, far from the traffic. To plan your itinerary, the stopovers, the marinas and the sailing conditions across each of these areas, find all the practical details on our Seychelles catamaran cruise page and in our Seychelles section.

Frequently asked questions about internet and SIM cards in the Seychelles

How much does a SIM card cost in the Seychelles?

The SIM card alone costs between 50 and 100 SCR, or roughly 3 to 7 euros. Data plans are added depending on your usage: expect around 13 euros for 2 GB with Cable & Wireless (~199 SCR) or around 20 euros for 1.5 GB with Airtel (~299 SCR). Larger plans (70 GB over 30 days) reach around 133 euros (~1,999 SCR). An eSIM through an international provider starts at around 8 euros for 1 GB.

Which mobile plan should you choose for the Seychelles?

For a 7 to 14 day stay cruising or in a hotel, a plan of 2 to 5 GB covers everyday use: WhatsApp, Google Maps, social media and marine weather. If you plan to stream or make video calls from the cockpit, go for 10 GB minimum or an unlimited-data eSIM plan.

What is the best eSIM for the Seychelles?

Several specialist international eSIM providers offer deals compatible with the Airtel and Cable & Wireless networks, from 1 GB to unlimited depending on the duration. For a cruise, the main advantage of an eSIM is that it activates before you leave: your home number stays available in parallel and there is no physical handling on board. Check your phone’s compatibility before buying, as an eSIM is not transferable.

Is there 5G in the Seychelles?

Yes, but only to a very limited extent. Cable & Wireless offers 5G in certain areas of Mahe and in Victoria, with speeds reaching up to 150 Mbps. Airtel covers the whole archipelago with 4G. On Praslin, La Digue and the other islands, the available network is 4G (10 to 40 Mbps) or even 3G. At sea, 4G remains the standard up to the limit of coverage.

Can you use your home plan in the Seychelles?

The Seychelles are not included in the free roaming of standard European plans. Some carriers offer an international pack (for example 10 GB + 30 minutes + 50 SMS for around 30 euros, valid for 31 days). Other operators charge roaming at high rates. For a stay of several days or a cruise, a local SIM card or an eSIM remains the most economical solution.