Posted 19 hours ago

Holiday in Switzerland: Which pre-paid sim for mifi?

Hi,

I'm with Lebara for my phone sim, but noticed Switzerland is not included in EU roaming. Same story with Lyca.

I'm looking for a sim that will go into a Mifi device to share amongst a few devices. Ideally this would be a pre-paid sim with around 20+ GB allowance.

I see Switzerland is included on Three and Smarty, but with a 12GB cap. Also included with 1p mobile, with 14GB cap.

Other options are specialist travel esims from Holafly and Maya Mobile, which work out around €12 (unlimited) and £16 (20GB) respectively, but these would only be compatible with my iPhone, not the mifi device.

Please share your tips! Thanks.
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  1. Onlydongles's avatar
    You can always offer hotspotting from your iphone esim to others !
    pancake00's avatar
    Author
    Thanks for the suggestion. In my experience, other devices seem to 'drop off' after a period of inactivity when hotspotting, so I need to reactive the hotspot on my phone quite often (iPhone 11 Pro). Which is why the mifi dongle is preferred.

    Also, having looked at the small print of Holafly, the hotspotting is limited to 500mb only, although I'm not sure how they could tell?

    I went through this list and had a quick look at some other networks websites. Voxi has attractive rates, and a decent limit of 20GB per trip of 'fair usage', but is a 30-day rolling contract, so would need cancelling. Similar with TalkMobile, limit of 5GB per trip due to 'acceptable use policy) and is also a rolling contract.

    I think it might be a choice between Holafly or the 3 prepaid sim.
  2. AndyRoyd's avatar
    Interesting that you mention two providers where one is based in EU that has legislation preventing cellular networks from device discrimination, unless the "not the mifi" issue is a restriction of the device itself and not the service?

    Otherwise was going to suggest multiples of pre-paid 3 PAYG+pack SIMs, but you've already covered that option:
    £8.79 fulfilled Amazon per 12GB Sim. ASIN B01N8RHG79
    Must be activated prior to departing UK.
    Pack valid max 30days after activation.

    Possible curveball via Lebara NL that offers Switzerland roaming and would be £17.15 for 20GB.
    Not clear how to obtain Lebara NL sim.
    Not checked if Lebara NL respects net neutrality / any device.
    lebara.nl/en/…tml

    Sim OnlyWithin the European Union (incl. Switzerland and the United Kingdom), you can use your bundle to make calls and send texts to other EU countries or use mobile data at no extra cost.
    lebara.nl/en/…tml
  3. 001Cisco's avatar
    Check if Lebara could do it.
    Their EU roaming cap at 30GB
  4. nanono8342ikumaru's avatar
    Tesco Mobile’s Home From Home includes Switzerland and is available as a PAYG SIM and has up to 100GB data with 5000 minutes and texts for £30pm, all of the allowances are useable abroad if I’m not mistaken!
  5. t3r4's avatar
    Get 2x Three prepay Sims

    Can be had for £4 on eBay with £10 credit
    ebay.co.uk/itm/395299192529

    Make sure to get it with credit not a pre bundle (otherwise you'll only get 10GB). Just before you go convert it to a 12GB bundle (you'll have to turn on auto renew, but there's no payment method linked anyway, so it won't renew). Make sure data is off before you put the SIM in a phone so that you don't accidentally use some credit on data.

    I used one as I went to Jersey, I moved from Lebara for the month, when I came back I moved back to Lebara and got one of the £1 offers...

    If you need more data look at Popit or Tesco Mobile, both include Switzerland and don't limit EU data allowances. (edited)
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