# Madagascar eSIM — Instant Data from $5.00/GB Jetogo eSIM data plans for Madagascar (ISO MG). ## Pricing - Price per GB: $5.00 - Pricing tier: 5 - Live price per GB (eSIMAccess-cached): $5.00 ### Estimated cost by usage - Light traveler (2 GB): $10.00 - Average traveler (6 GB): $30.00 - Heavy traveler (15 GB): $75.00 ## Network & carriers - Airtel — 4G - Orange — 4G - Data exit route: United Kingdom — this is where your data traffic breaks out to the internet; it does not affect coverage or speed in-country. - Hotspot/tethering: unlimited. Speed limit: none. Activation: instant, auto-connects on arrival. ## Major cities - Antananarivo — local time 2026-08-25T18:53:54+03:00, sunrise 2026-08-25T03:03:31.495Z / sunset 2026-08-25T14:40:56.829Z - Nosy Be — local time 2026-08-25T18:53:54+03:00, sunrise 2026-08-25T02:56:03.546Z / sunset 2026-08-25T14:42:16.423Z - Antsiranana — local time 2026-08-25T18:53:54+03:00, sunrise 2026-08-25T02:51:04.813Z / sunset 2026-08-25T14:39:02.407Z - Toamasina — local time 2026-08-25T18:53:54+03:00, sunrise 2026-08-25T02:55:20.872Z / sunset 2026-08-25T14:33:57.745Z - Morondava — local time 2026-08-25T18:53:54+03:00, sunrise 2026-08-25T03:17:27.411Z / sunset 2026-08-25T14:52:32.972Z ## Data situation Madagascar is one of Africa's more affordable mobile data markets — locals pay roughly $0.32 per gigabyte on average, placing it 20th among the continent's cheapest countries in the Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing study. Coverage is solid in the cities travelers actually pass through: Antananarivo, Nosy Be, and other coastal hubs get usable 4G for maps, messaging, and the occasional video call. That drops off fast once you leave the paved roads, though — stretches of the RN7 highway toward Toliara can lose signal for an hour at a time, and national parks like Isalo or Ranomafana are best treated as offline territory. Free WiFi exists at hotels and some cafés in the bigger towns, plus at both of the country's Ravinala-run international airports, but it's inconsistent enough that a dependable cellular eSIM matters far more here than in denser, better-networked destinations. - Local price per GB: $0.32/GB average for locals (20th-cheapest market in Africa, cable.co.uk / BestBroadbandDeals Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing study) - Free Wi-Fi: Available at most mid-range and upscale hotels and at some cafés/restaurants in Antananarivo and Nosy Be, though quality varies a lot — budget guesthouses often have slow or unreliable connections. Both of Ravinala Airports' international terminals (Ivato and Nosy Be) offer free WiFi to passengers via QR-code login. - Paid Wi-Fi: Rare as a standalone product — where WiFi is offered, it's typically bundled free with a hotel stay, meal, or café purchase rather than sold separately. ## International airports - TNR — Ivato International Airport (Antananarivo) — https://www.antananarivo-airport.aero/en/ - NOS — Nosy Be International Airport (Fascene) (Nosy Be) — https://www.nosybe-airport.aero/en/ ### Travel advisories - Advisory data not currently available for this country. ## Local SIM / phone number situation Buying a physical Malagasy SIM as a tourist requires handing over your original passport (not a copy) for registration with one of the main operators — Orange, Telma (now branded Yas), or Airtel — a process that typically takes 10-15 minutes at an official shop but can stretch close to an hour at busy airport counters. Counters for all major operators sit in the Ivato arrivals hall, but they run on flight schedules rather than fixed hours, so late or off-peak arrivals may find them closed. Airport SIM pricing is also reported as inflated compared to buying the same SIM and data bundle at a city shop, where prices are noticeably lower. None of this applies to a pre-provisioned eSIM from an international provider, which activates by email with no passport handover and no dependence on a kiosk being staffed when you land. - KYC requirements: Original passport (not a photocopy) required in person for any Malagasy carrier SIM, plus a signed registration form and, for some operators, a photo — but this only applies to SIMs issued by local carriers, not to an eSIM pre-installed from an international provider before departure. - Wait time: Reported as roughly 10-15 minutes at an official city shop, but up to about an hour at busy airport kiosks (e.g. Airtel's arrivals counter) depending on queue length and how the counter is staffed. - Jetogo Local SIM Hassle Score: 4.5/10 Wi-Fi calling lets you keep receiving calls and texts on your home phone number over an internet connection — including the data connection from your Jetogo eSIM — without needing a local SIM or number. Turn it on in your phone's settings before you travel (Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling on iPhone, or Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi Calling on Android), and your carrier will route calls to your regular number through data instead of a local cell signal, so friends and family can reach you exactly as they always have. ## Practical travel info - Power sockets: types C, E — 220V, 50Hz - Type E and F plugs will also fit in type C sockets - Type C and F plugs will also fit in type E sockets - Emergency numbers: police 117, ambulance 124, fire 118 - Calling code: +261 - Driving side: right - Tipping: Generally expected — mandatory or at least usual _Data via CountryWise._ ## FAQ **Will my Jetogo eSIM still work in national parks like Isalo or Ranomafana, or on the road to Toliara?** Coverage in Madagascar drops off fast outside the cities. Antananarivo, Nosy Be, and other coastal hubs get usable 4G, but stretches of the RN7 highway toward Toliara lose signal for long periods, and national parks like Isalo or Ranomafana are effectively offline — no eSIM, local SIM, or carrier changes that. Plan to download offline maps before heading into the backcountry. **Do I need to hand over my passport to activate my Jetogo eSIM in Madagascar?** No. Malagasy regulations require an original passport for SIMs issued by local carriers like Orange, Telma/Yas, and Airtel — but that in-person registration requirement applies to Malagasy-issued SIMs, not to a pre-provisioned eSIM from an international provider, which activates by email before you even land. **Is it worth buying a local SIM at Ivato Airport instead of using an eSIM?** Airport SIM counters in Madagascar run on flight schedules rather than fixed hours, so they can be closed for late or off-peak arrivals, and airport pricing is reported as higher than the same SIM and data bundle bought at a city shop. A pre-installed eSIM sidesteps both the counter hours and the markup. **How does an eSIM actually work?** An eSIM is a digital SIM built into your phone — instead of inserting a physical card, you install a small profile (usually by scanning a QR code) and your phone connects to a local or partner network for data. There's nothing to pick up at a store or swap in your device; the whole process happens over Wi-Fi in a couple of minutes. **Is my phone compatible with eSIM?** Most phones from the last 4-5 years support eSIM, including iPhone XS and later, most Google Pixel models from the Pixel 3 onward, and many recent Samsung Galaxy, and other Android flagships. Check Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Network) for an "Add eSIM" or "Add Cellular Plan" option — if it's there, you're set. Your phone also needs to be carrier-unlocked. **When does my eSIM activate — do I need to already be in the country?** You can install your Jetogo eSIM before you fly, but the data plan itself only starts counting once it connects to a network in your destination country — so there's no risk of burning through your allowance early. For most plans, connectivity kicks in automatically the moment you land and your phone finds a signal. **Can I use my eSIM as a personal hotspot?** Yes — hotspot and tethering are included on Jetogo eSIM plans at no extra cost, so you can share your connection with a laptop, tablet, or a travel companion's phone. **What happens when I run out of data? Can I top up?** You can top up directly from your Jetogo account in a couple of taps, without needing to buy a whole new plan or visit a store. Many travelers also use Jetogo's PayGo option, which lets you pay only for the data you actually use instead of committing to a fixed bundle. **Do I need a local phone number to use my eSIM?** No — Jetogo eSIMs are data-only, so there's no local phone number involved. If you need to make calls or send texts, you can use an internet calling app (like WhatsApp or FaceTime) over your eSIM data, or rely on Wi-Fi calling to keep using your existing home number (see below). **What is PayGo and why does it start at $5?** PayGo is Jetogo's pay-as-you-go option: you load a small starting balance — as low as $5 — and only pay for the data you actually use, with no expiration pressure or unused-data waste. It's a low-commitment way to try Jetogo or to cover shorter trips where a full data bundle would be overkill. **Will adding a Jetogo eSIM affect my existing phone number or home plan?** No. Your eSIM runs alongside your regular SIM (physical or eSIM) as a second, independent profile — your home number, texts, and voicemail keep working exactly as before. You simply choose which profile handles data while you're on Jetogo, and switch back anytime after your trip. ## Trust _Content coming soon._ ## Why Jetogo _Content coming soon._ ## Why Choose Jetogo _Content coming soon._ ## Practical travel info _Content coming soon._ ## Other countries pricing _Content coming soon._ --- Weather and air quality data © OpenWeatherMap, licensed under the Open Database License (ODbL): https://openweathermap.org/full-history Exchange rates via Frankfurter (European Central Bank reference rates): https://www.frankfurter.dev