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SIM Cards in Niger: The Best Prepaid Plans | 2024 Guide

Some people think that Niger is part of Nigeria, or Nigeria being part of Niger. That is not surprising because the names are similar, they are neighboring countries, and the country areas look almost the same when checking Google maps (Niger: 1.268 million km² – Nigeria: 923 768 km²). However, the population of Niger is 22.5 million, while Nigeria has a population of 196 million. Quite a difference!

Besides that, Niger has its own attractions. The museum called Musée National Boubou Hama is famous. The Greay Mosque of Niamey is lovely, and the W Bénin-Niger National Park is a must-see. There is not reason to be bored in Niger.

You probably want to share your Niger experiences online. But you know that roaming with your provider can be expensive in many cases. Getting a local SIM card is more affordable than roaming, even in Niger.

In this article, I will go over everything about buying a SIM card in Niger. Let's get started.

Buying a SIM Card in Niger Guide (logos of Moov Africa & Airtel)

Original publication: 9th of June 2020. Last updated: 15th of January 2024.


Table of Contents

Telecom Providers in Niger

Niger has 4 telecom providers:

  • Airtel Niger
  • Orange Niger
  • Moov Niger
  • SahelCom

All operators have 2G and 3G networks. Airtel Niger is the only operator that has a 4G/LTE network. Orange Niger was awarded their 4G/LTE license in 2020 and is planning on building their 4G/LTE network soon.

The coverage of SahelCom is extremely poor, which is why they will not be covered in this article. However, for more information about SahelCom, you can head to their website (which is in French).

Which of these Nigerien operators have the best prepaid SIM card and prepaid offering?

Best SIM Card in Niger

If you want to buy a SIM card in Niger, then Airtel is the best because they have the best coverage, fastest speeds and have a 4G/LTE network.

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SIM Card Registration Regulations in Guinea

Like most countries in West Africa, and Africa in general, you have to register yourself when buying a SIM card in Niger.

  • Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
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Broadband internet in Niger is almost non-existent, which is why mobile internet is so prevalent in Niger. Even then, the penetration rate is less than 50%, but it has improved over recent years.

The issue, however, is the quality of service of mobile internet – it is, in general, poor for (West) African standards. In fact, the telecom regulator of Niger (ARTP) fined the 4 operators in 2017 for not improving their quality of service, as agreed to years ago.

Coverage is good in Southern, Western, and Southwestern Niger. Both Airtel Niger and Orange Niger have decent coverage up north and east, but it is not excellent.

With that being said, let’s see what Niger has to offer to us.

Airtel Niger

Airtel Logo

Airtel Niger, just Airtel, is the largest operator in Niger. They have a market share of almost 50%, have the fastest speeds, and the best coverage throughout Niger.

SIM Card Price – Airtel

You can get an Airtel SIM card for 1000 XOF, which comes with 200 XOF in credit, in Airtel stores. Top-up vouchers are available all over Niger, even on the streets.

  • Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
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Airtel has several data packs, called Forfaits internet, which can be activated by dialing *141*3#. It looks like you get extra data on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays with these plans (Volume Lundi Mercredi Vendredi (LMV)) compared to Jours Normaux.

There are 17 Airtel Forfaits Internet Bundles:

  • 100 XOF: 25 MB normal and 50 MB LMV for 24 hours
  • 150 XOF: 40 MB normal and 80 MB LMV for 24 hours
  • 200 XOF: 75 MB normal and 150 MB LMV for 24 hours
  • 250 XOF: 200 MB normal and 400 MB LMV for 1 night between 12 AM and 5 AM
  • 300 XOF: 125 MB normal and 250 MB LMV for 24 hours
  • 499 XOF: 150 MB/350 MB normal and 300 MB/700 MB LMC for 7 days
  • 500 XOF: 1228.8 MB normal and 2457.6 MB LMV for 1 night between 12 AM and 5 AM
  • 500 XOF: 400 MB normal and 800 MB LMV for 24 hours
  • 500 XOF: 300 MB normal and 600 MB LMV for 7 days
  • 1000 XOF: 1 GB and 2 GB LMV for 24 hours 
  • 1000 XOF: 800 MB normal and 1600 MB LMV for 7 days
  • 2000 XOF: 2.5 GB normal and 5 GB LMV for 7 days
  • 2000 XOF: 1 GB normal and 2 GB LMV for 30 days
  • 3000 XOF: 4 GB normal and 8 GB LMV for 7 days
  • 5000 XOF: 4 GB normal and 7 GB LMV for 30 days
  • 10 000 XOF: 12 GB normal and 24 GB LMV for 30 days
  • 20 000 XOF: 30 GB normal and 60 GB LM for 30 days

Orange Niger

Orange Logo

Orange Niger, just Orange, is the second-largest operator in Niger. They have good coverage throughout Niger. Orange’s prices are comparable with the ones of Airtel.

SIM Card Price – Orange

You can get an Orange SIM card for 300 XOF in Orange stores, which comes with 250 XF in credit. Top-up vouchers are widely available from 500 XOF all the way up to 10 000 XOF.

  • Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
SIM Card Prices Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Orange has 2 combo plans (Forfaits Tous Réseaux & Forfaits Orange Mix) and 1 data-only plan (Pass Internet Sawki). Let’s go through each of them.

Forfaits Tous Réseaux

The Tours Réseaux are combo plans that come with data, minutes for off-net use, and SMS. All Tours Réseaux plans are valid for 24 hours, and there are 3 of them:

  • 500 XOF: 30 MB, 10 minutes, and 30 SMS
  • 750 XOF: 60 MB, 15 minutes, and 60 SMS
  • 1000 XOF: 120 MB, 20 minutes, and 120 SMS

Forfaits Orange Mix

The Orange Mix are combo plans that come with data, on-net minutes, and on-net SMS. There are 4 Orange Mix bundles, but only 3 of them come with data. All Orange Mix plans are valid for 24 hours:

  • 500 XOF: 30 MB, 30 minutes, and 30 SMS. Activation: text 30M to 2525
  • 750 XOF: 60 MB, 60 minutes, and 60 SMS. Activation: text 60M to 2525
  • 1000 XOF: 100 MB and unlimited calls and SMS. Activation: text 24H to 2525

Pass Internet Sawki

The Pass Internet Sawki are standard data-only plans that range from daily passes to passes that last for 6 months. There are 13 Internet Sawki Passes available:

  • 100 XOF: 20 MB for 24 hours. Activation: text 1J1 to 2525
  • 200 XOF: 50 MB for 24 hours. Activation: text 1J2 to 2525
  • 500 XOF: 1 GB for 1 night between 12 AM and 6 AM. Activation: text PN to 2525
  • 500 XOF: 350 MB for 24 hours. Activation: text 1J3 to 2525
  • 500 XOF: 250 MB for 7 days. Activation: text 1S1 to 2525
  • 500 XOF: 1000 MB for 7 days (100 MB during the day and 900 MB between 12 AM and 6 AM). Activation: text SNJ to 2525
  • 1000 XOF: 800 MB for 7 days. Activation: text 1S2 to 2525
  • 2000 XOF: 2 GB for 7 days. Activation: text 1S3 to 2525
  • 2000 XOF: 1 GB for 30 days. Activation: text 1M4 to 2525
  • 5000 XOF: 4 GB for 30 days. Activation: text 1M1 to 2525
  • 10 000 XOF: 10 GB for 30 days. Activation: text 1M2 to 2525
  • 20 000 XOF: 20 GB for 30 days. Activation: text 1M3 to 2525
  • 70 000 XOF: 50 GB for 6 months. Activation: text 6M to 2525

Moov Niger

Moov Logo

Moov Niger, just Moov, is the smallest operator in Niger. They have the worst coverage throughout Niger, but the coverage is still decent, especially in the South, West, and Southwest Niger.

SIM Card Price – Moov

You can get a Moov SIM card for 200 XOF in Moov stores, and it comes with 100 XOF in credit.

  • Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
SIM Card Prices Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Moov has several combo and data-only plans, which are:

  • Moov Fortaits Prestiges
  • Moov Forfaits Tour Réseaux
  • Moov Forfaits No Limit
  • Moov Data Packages

Let's go through each of them.

Moov Forfaits Prestiges

The Prestiges plans are combo plans that come with data, minutes, and on-SMS. The sales page states that you can use your minutes for international use as well, but that is not mentioned in the description of any of the packages, which is odd.

The following 4 Moov Forfaits Prestiges plans are available:

  • 500 XOF: 50 MB, 10 local minutes, and 10 on-net SMS for 24 hours. Activation: text 500 to 3000
  • 1000 XOF: 200 MB, 20 local minutes, and 20 on-net SMS for 48 hours. Activation: text 1000 to 3000
  • 2000 XOF: 450 MB, 45 local minutes, and 45 on-net SMS for 7 days. Activation: text 2000 to 3000
  • 5000 XOF: 1 GB, 1024 local minutes, and 1024 on-net SMS for 15 days. Activation: text 5000 to 3000

Moov Forfaits Tous Réseaux

The Tous Réseaux plans are combo plans that are basically the same as Forfait Prestiges, meaning that you get data, minutes for local use, and on-net SMS. All Moov Tours Réseaux plans can be activated by dialing *515*2*1#:

  • 500 XOF: 50 MB, 10 local minutes, and 10 on-net SMS for 24 hours.
  • 1000 XOF: 200 MB, 20 local minutes, and 200 on-net SMS for 48 hours
  • 2000 XOF: 450 MB, 45 local minutes, and 450 on-net SMS for 7 days.
  • 5000 XOF: 1 GB, 150 local minutes, and 1024 on-net SMS for 15 day

Moov Forfaits No Limit

The No Limit plans are combo plans that come with data, (unlimited) on-net minutes and unlimited on-net SMS. 5 No Limit plans are available, and they can be activated by dialing *515*3*1#:

  • 500 XOF: 100 MB, unlimited on-net calls, and 5 local minutes for 24 hours
  • 1000 XOF: 1 GB, unlimited on-net calls, 15 local minutes, and unlimited on-net SMS for 3 days 
  • 3000 XOF: 1.5 GB, unlimited on-net calls, and 30 local minutes for 7 days
  • 5000 XOF: 3 GB, unlimited on-net calls, 120 local minutes, and unlimited on-net SMS for 10 days
  • 10 000 XOF: 6 GB, unlimited on-net calls, 140 local minutes, and unlimited on-net SMS for 20 days
  • 20 000 XOF: 12 GB, unlimited on-net calls, 300 local minutes, and unlimited on-net SMS for 30 days

Moov Data Packages

Finally, we have regular data-only plans. They come in daily, nightly, weekly, and monthly variants.

Moov Internet Jour (Day)

The daily packages are valid for 24 hours. 4 daily packages are available:

  • 100 XOF: 25 MB. Activation: text J1 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*1*1#
  • 200 XOF: 75 MB. Activation: text J2 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*1*2#
  • 500 XOF: 400 MB. Activation: text J3 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*1*3#
  • 1000 XOF: 1.5 GB. Activation: Dial *888#
Moov Internet Nuit (Night)

The night packages are valid between 12 AM and 6 AM for 1 night:

  • 200 XOF: 200 MB. Activation: text NUIT1 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*4*1#
  • 500 XOF: 1 GB. Activation: text NUIT2 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*4*2#
Moov Internet Hebdo (Weekly)

There a 3 weekly plans:

  • 500 XOF: 300 MB. Activation: text S1 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*2*1#
  • 1000 XOF: 800 MB. Activation: text S2 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*2*2# 
  • 2000 XOF: 2.5 GB. Activation: text S3 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*2*3#
Moov Internet Mois (Month)

You have 4 monthly plans that are valid for 30 days:

  • 2000 XOF: 1 GB. Activation: text M1 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*3*1#
  • 5000 XOF: 4 GB. Activation: text M2 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*3*2#
  • 10 000 XOF: 12 GB. Activation: text M3 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*3*3#
  • 20 000 XOF: 30 XOF. Activation: text M4 to 888 or dial *888*1*1*3*4#

The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Niger

Getting a SIM card from Airtel would do you well when considering a Nigerien SIM card.