There are three main national GSM operators in Azerbaijan:
- Azercell
- Boxell
- Nar mobile (from Azerfon)
Two more operators have a very limited 4G/LTE network:
- Music
- Baktelecom
Sazz operates on frequencies of 3500 and 3700 MHz (B42 and 43), and Baktelecom operates on 2300 (B40). They only offer fixed wireless internet in the Baku area and a few home providers. Therefore, they are not mentioned further. The CDMA-based Aztrank and Nakhtel networks are not represented in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, as CDMA is not compatible with GSM mobile phones.
2G/GSM operates at 900 MHz in Azercell and Bakcell and at 1800 MHz in Nar, 3G operates at 2100 MHz in all operators up to DC-HSPA, and 4G/LTE is launched in all three providers at 1800 MHz (B3). 5G is still in the testing phase.
Coverage and speeds are pretty good across the country. 4G/LTE has just started and is still mostly limited to the capital, but is starting to expand into rural areas.
Regulation
Until 2016, it was difficult to legally obtain a SIM card for foreigners, as it was impossible to properly register as a short-term visitor. Most SIM cards were sold on the grey market without any registration, which meant you were at risk of being disconnected.
But everything changed in 2016, when a new SIM card registration system was introduced, which for the first time allowed foreigners staying in the country for less than 10 days to be registered in a centralized database with their ID cards. Now any visitor can easily get a SIM card by presenting their ID card (passport, visa) at one of the operators’ sales points.
In 2018, Azerbaijan introduced a limit on the number of SIM cards registered per person. The maximum number is 5 SIM cards from all mobile operators in Azerbaijan.
IMEI registration in Azerbaijan
There is another obstacle. Like Turkey, the Azerbaijani authorities keep a registry of all IMEI numbers. These numbers are unique to your device and are whitelisted. This is done officially to prevent theft, but it is also a surveillance tool.
All devices using a local SIM card for more than 30 days must be registered in Azerbaijan’s IMEI database. To register, you need to register your device upon entering the country, which can be done in advance online , then you can ask a local friend for help online or go to any post office in the country to whitelist your IMEI. Online registration costs between 15 and 100 manats depending on the market price of the device. The exact amount of tax that will be charged can be found here . Otherwise, your device will be disabled after 30 days based on its IMEI number.
To find your IMEI number, you need to dial *#06# on most devices, but remember that each SIM card slot or eSIM has its own IMEI number. If you are in the country for less than 30 days or are using a roaming SIM card, you don’t need to worry.
Azercell
Azercell is the largest mobile operator in Azerbaijan by subscriber base, with around 50% of all users, and was previously owned by the Swedish group Telia and the Turkish group Turkcell. In 2018, both companies agreed to sell their stake in Azercell to Azintelecom, a company wholly owned by the Republic of Azerbaijan.
It covers 80% of Azerbaijan’s territory and 99% of its settlements.
But some of them use 2G. 3G started in 2011, then 4G/LTE in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula with 79% coverage of the capital and Absheron in 2017, and new networks in Ganja, Bard, Shamkir and Lankaran: 4G coverage map.
Availability
Their SIM card is sold for 5 manats in stores and retail outlets ( locator ) upon presentation of your ID, their prepaid SIM cards are called SimSim. They come in different tariff lines. The default tariff is Acercellim. If you are using a different line, you can change it by sending an SMS message with the letter A to 7575. New subscribers who top up their balance by 1 manat or more within 10 days of activation will receive a bonus of 3 manats.
Payment cards for top-up are sold everywhere from 1 to 100 manats. The validity period is from 7 to 360 days, depending on the amount. To top-up, enter *131*<voucher code>#.
To check your balance, send a blank SMS to 2112 (for 0.02 manat) or enter the USSD code *111*1*7# to check your data usage and phone credit. Or *100# to check your data usage only, or use their Kabinetim mobile app.
Plan
They offer a variety of prepaid plans:
- Acercellim: Default tariff, calls, text messages and data are charged additionally. Internet cost is 0.20 AZN per MB in 51 KB increments.
- Services: combo packages with data volume, minutes for domestic calls and free WhatsApp and FB Messenger text messages for 30 days:
- 2 GB, 350 min: 10 AZN – activation: S10
- 5 GB, 500 min: 15 AZN – activation: S15
- 15 GB, 850 min: 25 AZN – activation: S25
- 25 GB, 2500 min: 50 AZN – activation: S50
- 60 GB, 4000 min: 75 AZN – activation: S75
- GəncOL: combined packages with data, calls and a certain amount of data for Azercell SberZvuk, ivi, Busuu and Bookmate applications, as well as free WhatsApp text messages
- 750 MB, 75 min, 750 MB for applications: 2 AZN – activation: G2
- 3 GB, 300 min, 3 GB for applications: 6 AZN – activation: G6
- 6 GB, 600 min, 6 GB for applications: 9 AZN – activation: G9
- Sadə and GəncSim: voice tariffs without data limits, data packages can be added
- Data: Data-only plan without voice, data packages can be added (see below)
You can switch between all tariff lines by sending an SMS message with your name to 7575 (for a fee of 1 manat) or using the Kabinetim application.
Data transfer function packages
The standard fee for almost all tariffs, including Acercellim, is 0.20 manat per MB. The maximum speed in 3G is 21.6 Mbps, in 4G/LTE – 100 Mbps.
They sell these data packs to get extra data for all the above plans:
| Data | Expiration date | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| unlimited | 1 year | 0.59 manat | With |
| 3 years | 1.49 manat | 3S | |
| 6 hours | 2.39 manat | 6S | |
| weekend | 0.99 manat | night | |
| 100 MB | 24 years old | 0.50 manat | 100 |
| 500 MB | 1.20 manat | pistol | |
| 500 MB | 30 days | 3 manats | 500 |
| 1 GB | 5 manats | 1000 | |
| 5 GB | 10 manats | 5000 | |
| 10 GB | 15 manats | 10 | |
| 30 GB | 25 manats | 30 | |
| 50 GB | 30 manats | L |
To activate, send the code for free to 2525. All packages are automatically renewed. To stop, send an SMS message ‘stop <activation code> to 2525. The cost of overage is 0.05 AZN for the entire validity period of the package. Check the balance by sending an empty SMS to 2525 or by using *100#. Hourly and unlimited packages are limited to 2 Mbps. Weekend package is limited to only 512 kbit/s, and weekend means the whole day on Saturday and Sunday.
More information
- APN: internet
- Website in English: http://www.azercell.com/en
Boxell
Bakcell was the first provider in the country, founded in 2002. It is partly state-owned and today ranks second in the market with a 30% user share. It has good 2G and 3G coverage throughout the country and has launched 4G in the Baku and Ganja regions with slightly less coverage than Azercell, at lower prices.
Availability
Bakcell prepaid SIM cards are called CIN . They have different tariff lines, and starter packs in their stores cost 5 manat. You will need to show your passport.
To top up your account, cards are sold everywhere in denominations from 1 to 50 AZD with a validity of 5 to 150 days. To enter the code, dial *101 # <voucher code>#. To check your balance, dial *100#.
To start using the Internet, you must have at least 0.29 AZN on your account.
Plan
Like Azercell, Bakcell offers a variety of basic and combined 30-day plans:
- CIN: Their default basic plan with additional data and calls. Mobile data costs AZD 0.15 per MB, activation: *300#
- ƏlaAY: has a bonus of 500 MB and data at a price of 0.02 AZD per MB and unlimited calls within the network: 17 AZD, activation: *317#
- ƏlaSAAT, ƏlaGÜN and YeniDoğma only offer cheap calls, and data costs 0.15 AZD per MB.
- DaimOnline is a combined data package, with a standard rate of 0.02 AZD per MB and on-net calls:
- DaimOnline 6: 3 GB, 50 minutes within the network: 6 AZN – activation: *306#
- DaimOnline 10: 5 GB, 100 minutes within the network, free WhatsUp, Instagram, Facebook: 10 AZN – activation: *310#
- Klass is their combo package with domestic minutes, data and free WhatsApp text messages, data overage is 0.02 AZD per MB;
- Class 5: 500 MB, 100 min,: 5 AZN – activation: *205#
- Class 10: 2 GB, 350 min: 10 AZN – activation: *210#
- Class 15: 5 GB, 500 min: 15 AZN – activation: *215#
- Class 25: 15 GB, 1050 min: 25 AZN – activation: *225#
- Class 50: 20 GB, 3000 min: 50 AZN – activation: *250#
You can add data packages to all of the above plans. You can change plans anytime for 1-2 manats depending on the plan. Check your included balances for free using *100#.
Data transfer function packages
They offer a variety of internet packages that can be added to the above plans for additional data:
| Data | Time | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| unlimited | 1 year (#) | 0.50 manat | *570*50# |
| 100 MB | 1 day | 0.50 manat | *444*100# |
| 250 MB | 0.75 manat | *444*250# | |
| 500 MB | 1 manat | *444*500# | |
| 300 MB | 7 days | 2 manats | *444*300# |
| 600 MB | 3 manats | *444*600# | |
| 60 MB | 15 days | 1 manat | *444*60# |
| 500 MB | 30 days | 3 manats | *444*05# |
| 1 GB | 5 manats | *444*1# | |
| 2.5 GB | 8 manats | *444*025# | |
| 5 GB | 10 manats | *444*5# | |
| 10 GB | 15 manats | *444*10# | |
| 20 GB (§) | 25 manats | *444*20# | |
| 50 GB | 30 manats | *444*050# |
(#) = Hourly package can only be activated once a day from 1:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Check status with *570#, modem prohibited, speed limited to 4 Mbps.
(§) = 20 GB package is valid only from 1:00 to 10:00, internet speed up to 2 Mbps.
To check your package balance, dial *444#. To renew your current package in advance, dial *444#555#. All daily, weekly and monthly packages are renewed automatically. To disable automatic renewal of the package, dial *444#0#. By booking a package, you can access Bakcell Wi-Fi in Baku and use the Internet for free (see below).
They also sell special packages for use on Instagram and YouTube.
Wi-Fi from Bakcell
Free Wi-Fi from Bakcell is available to all Bakcell subscribers and visitors with foreign numbers using the Bakcell network. There are no other requirements to use the Wi-Fi service. It is available in over 200 different locations: restaurants, hotels, cafes, parks ( locator ) in Baku, Sumgait and Shusha.
You will need to connect to the Bakcell_Free_WiFi hotspot. Enter your phone number in the format 994XXXXXXXXX on the landing page, click ” Get Password ” and wait for the text message. Use the password from the SMS and enter it in the ” Your Password ” field and click ” Login “. You will have free Internet access for 1 hour. After 1 hour, you will be disconnected from the Wi-Fi network. To restore the connection, you need to log in again on the landing page. Passwords can be reused throughout the day. The speed of your Internet connection is limited to 2 Mbps.
Data-only SIM card
For tablets and modems, they offer a free card for data and SMS only, as well as the following 30-day packages:
- 11 GB: 15 manats, activation: *134*111#
- 50 GB: 30 manats, activation: *134*512#
All packages are for one month and automatically renew if you have enough funds on your balance. To cancel your subscription: *134#0#, to check your data balance: *134#559#. Standard overage and usage fee is 0.01 AZN per MB. Speed up to 225 Mbps on 4G/LTE+ networks. To find out your number, dial *666#.
More information
- APN: internet.bakcell.com
- Website in English: http://www.bakcell.com/en
Nar (in Azerfon )
Azerfon started its operations in 2007 under the brand name nar mobile. Azerfon claims to cover 80% of the territory, which is almost entirely in line with expectations, given that about 15% of the territory is “under occupation”. In some remote areas, nar is the only service provider, but overall coverage is lower. In 2015, 4G/LTE was launched in the city of Baku, and 3G has expanded, but the company remains in third place with a user share of 25%. In 2019, it announced that 97.6% of the country’s population was covered by the 3G network, while 4G/LTE was available to 91.5% of the population.
Availability
Their prepaid SIM card, called NarSim, is sold in stores for 5 manats in various tariff lines. This doesn’t make much difference for data, as they mostly stick to the standard rate of 0.29 manats per megabyte.
To top up your account, top-up cards are sold with a value of 2 to 50 manats, valid for 25 to 245 days. To top up your balance, enter *777#11#<voucher code>#. To check your balance, enter *777#10#.
Plan
Like their competitors, they offer various basic internet plans priced at 0.29 AZN per MB, called
- Unlimited, Unique, Yerlim or Super0 offer data only at the basic rate, but you can add packages below
- 3 in 1: you get 150 minutes on-net, 50 minutes off-net and 200 MB per week for 2.80 AZN, activation: *777#20#.
- “Welcome” is their visitor plan. It includes 6GB for 10 AZD, calls are charged extra, but any change of plans is prohibited: 10 AZD.
- Full is their regular combo plan with voice and data for 30 days:
- 1.5 GB, 300 min: 9 AZN – activation: F9
- 2 GB, 450 min: 14 AZN – activation: F14
- 2.5 GB, 600 min: 19 AZN – activation: F19
- 3 GB, unlimited minutes within the network, 1000 minutes outside the network, 1000 internal SMS: 29 AZN – activation: F29
- 5 GB, unlimited minutes within the network, 1500 minutes outside the network, 1500 internal SMS: 39 AZN – activation: F39
- 10 GB, unlimited minutes within the network, 2000 minutes outside the network, 2000 internal SMS: 49 AZN – activation: F49
- CaravaNar tariff plans are combined plans with free use of the application for 30 days:
- 2 GB, 1 GB for Facebook, Twitter and VKontakte, 200 minutes for internal calls: 6 AZN – activation: C6
- 5 GB, 5 GB for Facebook, Twitter, VKontakte and Instagram, 500 home min: 9 AZN – activation: C9
All plans are automatically renewed, to activate send the free SMS code to 777. In Full plans, unused data is carried over to the next month, and there is also a Cevir offer: you can exchange minutes for megabytes at the price of 50 min to 100 MB (*778*50100#), 100 min to 200 MB (*778*100200#), 200 min to 400 MB (*778*200400#) or 300 min to 600 MB (*778*300600#). This can be done up to 5 times a month for a fee of 0.20 AZN.
Data transfer function packages
They offer three 100MB data packages, valid until midnight, for AZD 0.50. To activate, send the code to 777#50#. The subscription will automatically renew at midnight. To cancel the subscription, dial *777#012#. To check your data balance, dial *777#77# or use the Nar+ app.
These long-term data packages are offered for all plans:
| Plan | Data | Time | Price | Activation | Night bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 60 MB | 15 days | 1 manat | *777#01# | |
| With | 200 MB | 20 days | 2 manats | *777#02# | |
| M+ | 750 MB | 30 days | 4 manats | *777#035# | |
| L | 1.5 GB | 6 manats | *777#04# | ||
| L+ | 5 GB | 10 manats | *777*045# | ||
| XL | 7 GB | 13 manats | *777#05# | unlimiteddata | |
| 2XL | 20 GB | 25 manats | *777#06# | ||
| 3XL | 40 GB | 35 manats | *777#07# |
Night bonus is valid only from midnight to 8:00. All packages are automatically renewed. To stop, dial *777#0#. To check the balance *777#77#. After using the basic data of the package, additional free data will be provided according to the active internet package with a maximum speed of 64 kbps until the end of the package validity period. After using the additional free data, you will be charged according to the terms of your current package or tariff. (For XS, S and M+ packages 1 MB = 0.02 AZN, for L and L+ packages 1 MB = 0.005 AZN).
To restore maximum speed after using all data, a “turbo button” is offered. Using the “Turbo” button, you can restore the full speed of the current internet package during its usage period. It is available until the end of the current internet package validity period.
- for XS/S/M+/L packages: 50 MB for 0.50 AZD, activation: *777*050#
- for packages L+/XL/2XL/3XL: 500 MD for AZD 1, activation: *777*500#
Otherwise, you can purchase any data package ahead of time.
More information
- APN: nar
- Username: nar
- Password is empty.
- Website in Azerbaijani and Russian: http://www.nar.az