eSIM for Papua New Guinea

Viasimo's Papua New Guinea eSIM starts at $5.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, running on Digicel with 4G LTE where available. Plans last 3 to 180 days, arrive by email in minutes and install from your phone's settings, with no app.

Works everywhere in Papua New Guinea

Bougainville
Central Province
Chimbu Province
East New Britain Province
East Sepik Province
Eastern Highlands Province
Enga Province

Select your planIn stock

Duration

Quantity

Unlimited data · 3 Days$28.99

Unlimited data · 3 Days ×1

$28.99

Going to more than one country? See regional plans

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Dial *#06# on your phone. If you see an EID number, your phone takes an eSIM. Most phones sold since 2019 do.

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Network

Which networks does the Papua New Guinea eSIM use?

Host networks: Digicel

Your eSIM picks one automatically; you do not choose or switch between them.

Data: 1 GB – 20 GB or unlimited
Validity: 3–180 days
Speed: 4G LTE
Hotspot / tethering: Supported on most devices
Activation: Starts when you first connect in your destination
Speed management: Roughly 2-3 GB per day at full speed, sometimes less depending on the local carrier, then reduced
Top-ups: Add more data from your account, before the plan expires
Text messages (SMS): Data only: use an app for verification codes
Connects via: Singapore
Unused validity: 180 days before it must be installed

Setting up Buy, scan the QR code we email you, and switch on the travel line when you land. How it works

Choosing a plan

How much data do you need?

The allowances below are our sizing recommendations, not measurements. The plan beside each one is the cheapest option on this page that covers it.

Recommended data allowances matched to the plans sold for this destination
You are	Plan for	Cheapest plan that covers it
LightMaps, messaging and the occasional lookup	About 1 GB a week	$5.991 GB, 7 days
TypicalMaps, social, photos and some browsing	About 3 to 7 GB a week	$21.995 GB, 30 days
HeavyVideo streaming, video calls and uploads	10 GB a week or more	$37.9910 GB, 30 days
Working or sharingTethering a laptop, calls and cloud sync	20 GB a week or more	$63.00Unlimited, 7 days

Work it out from your own habits

What a week abroad costs

eSIM, local SIM or roaming?

Charged per day

Your carrier roaming

Queue and plastic

A SIM at the airport

$5.99

Viasimo, one bundle

Only the Viasimo figure is a price: it comes from today’s live catalog. The other two rows are directional, not quoted rates.

About this eSIM

Arriving at Jacksons International in Port Moresby

Most international visitors land at Jacksons International Airport (POM) in Port Moresby, and many go straight on to domestic flights to Lae, Mount Hagen, Rabaul or smaller provincial airstrips. Install the eSIM at home, leave it switched off for the flight, and turn it on once you are on the ground at Jacksons. Set it as your data line and keep your home SIM active for calls and texts.

The first job for your data is not maps. In Port Moresby you will almost always be met by your hotel shuttle, a tour company or your employer's driver rather than taking a taxi, so use the connection to confirm the pickup and share your arrival time. The UK Foreign Office notes that flight delays and cancellations are common in PNG, so check your onward domestic flight while you are still in the terminal, before you leave the secure area.

If you are connecting the same day, keep your boarding passes and booking references saved as screenshots. Domestic terminals and provincial airstrips may have weak signal, and you do not want your only copy of a booking stuck in an email that will not load.

Digicel and the shape of coverage

Our eSIM uses Digicel, now part of Telstra after the Australian company bought Digicel's Pacific operations in July 2022. You will be on 4G LTE; there is no 5G on this plan.

The shape of coverage in PNG is set by geography. Much of the country is steep, forested mountains, and many communities can be reached only by light aircraft, boat or on foot. Signal is concentrated in Port Moresby, Lae, Mount Hagen, Goroka, Madang, Kokopo and other provincial centres. Between them, coverage depends on whether a tower has line of sight over the ridges, which in the Highlands often it does not.

Treat any trek, river journey or island stay as offline unless your operator tells you otherwise, and ask lodges how they stay in contact.

Urban centres also have interruptions to water and electricity supply, which the UK Foreign Office highlights in its 2026 advice. Charge your phone and power bank whenever you have mains power, and expect hotel generators to keep wifi running when the grid is down.

What you'll use data for

In PNG your phone is mainly a coordination and safety tool. You will use it to stay in touch with drivers, guides and hosts, confirm domestic flights that change at short notice, and share your location with your hotel or a trusted contact when you move around town. Messaging apps work well on 4G and keep going on a weak signal, so they are the best way to stay reachable.

You will also use it for news. Security conditions in some provinces change quickly, and local media and your hotel are the best guides on whether a road or district is safe on a particular day. Checking those before you set out is more useful than any map.

Before you fly

Check your passport has at least six months' validity on arrival, sort your visa and Digital Arrival Card, and save both offline. Download offline maps for every town and province on your route, including the Highlands Highway if you are driving. Save the emergency numbers: 111 for an ambulance, 110 for fire and 112 for police. Our eSIM is data only, so these calls need your home SIM on roaming or a local phone.

Pack a large power bank and a car charger, and keep your phone out of sight when you are not using it.

Unlimited runs at full speed up to a fair-use limit, then continues slower.

Before you buy

Important to know

This is a data-only eSIM. It carries no calls or SMS on its own number.
Your existing number stays on your primary SIM, so calls and verification texts keep working.
Your phone must support eSIM, and some carrier-locked phones cannot install one.
Signal varies with location, terrain, congestion and your handset. Dense urban areas are consistently better served than remote ones.
The eSIM selects a host network automatically. You cannot pick or switch between them.
Unlimited plans run at full speed up to a fair-use limit, then continue at a reduced speed. Read the fair usage policy

Looking for more information?

Frequently asked questions

Does an eSIM work in Papua New Guinea?

Yes. Your Papua New Guinea eSIM connects automatically the moment you arrive, with no roaming fees and nothing to set up at the airport. The host networks it can use are Digicel. Coverage runs on 4G LTE. There is no 5G on our host network in Papua New Guinea yet.

Do I get 5G in Papua New Guinea?

No. Digicel do not yet offer 5G to visitors in Papua New Guinea, so your eSIM connects over 4G LTE or slower. Anyone claiming 5G for this destination is quoting a spec sheet, not the network you will actually get.

Do I need a visa for Papua New Guinea?

Yes. You can apply online through the Immigration & Citizenship Services Authority (ICSA) or at a PNG embassy, and tourist visas are also issued on arrival at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby for eligible travellers. Since 1 October 2025 everyone must also submit a free Digital Arrival Card online within 72 hours before arriving.

Which mobile network does the eSIM use in Papua New Guinea?

Digicel, on 4G LTE. Australia's Telstra bought Digicel's Pacific operations in July 2022. Coverage is concentrated in towns such as Port Moresby, Lae, Mount Hagen and Kokopo. Treat treks, river journeys and remote islands as offline unless your operator says otherwise.

Is it safe to use my phone in Port Moresby?

Use it discreetly. The UK Foreign Office rates serious crime as high in Port Moresby, Lae and Mount Hagen, warns that criminals target people at banks and ATMs, and advises not displaying phones, laptops or cameras. Check maps and messages inside your hotel or vehicle, use hotel transport rather than PMVs, and avoid walking after dark.

Which parts of Papua New Guinea should I avoid?

As of August 2026 the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Hela and Southern Highlands provinces because of tribal fighting, and to Enga Province except Wabag District, where checkpoints and curfews are in place. It also warns of attacks on the Kokoda Track, so walk only with established guides.

What are the emergency numbers in Papua New Guinea?

The UK government lists 112 for police, 111 for an ambulance and 110 for fire. Our eSIM is data only, so these calls need your home SIM on roaming or a local phone. Save them before travelling outside the main towns, where mobile coverage can disappear for long stretches.

How much data do I need for 7 days in Papua New Guinea?

For 7 days in Papua New Guinea, Viasimo sells 1 GB for $5.99 and unlimited data for $63.00. Our sizing recommendation, not a measurement: maps, messaging and the occasional lookup, about 1 GB a week; maps, social, photos and some browsing, about 3 to 7 GB a week. The data calculator on this site works it out from how you actually use your phone.

Installing, keeping your number, topping up and hotspot work the same everywhere: see how it works →

Know before you go

Papua New Guinea: what to know before you land

Our eSIM in Papua New Guinea connects to Digicel on 4G LTE. Digicel's Pacific business has been owned by Australia's Telstra since 2022. Coverage follows towns and airstrips more than roads, and the practical prep is paperwork and safety: a visa and the online Digital Arrival Card before you fly, and a plan for using your phone discreetly in Port Moresby, Lae and Mount Hagen.

Emergency: 112 police
111 ambulance
110 fire
Plugs: I 240V
Currency: Papua New Guinean kina (PGK)

Main airports

POM Jacksons International Airport (Port Moresby)
LAE Nadzab Airport (Lae)

Apps worth having WhatsAppFacebookGoogle Maps (offline)

Visa, ICSA online services and the Digital Arrival Card

Everyone needs a visa to visit Papua New Guinea. The UK Foreign Office says you can apply in advance online through the Immigration & Citizenship Services Authority (ICSA), using its Online Services tab, or through a PNG embassy or high commission. Tourist and visitor visas can also be issued on arrival at Jacksons International Airport, and PNG has recently reintroduced visa on arrival for certain categories, so check ICSA for your eligibility. You may be asked for an onward ticket.

Since 1 October 2025, all travellers must also submit a free Digital Arrival Card online within 72 hours before arrival. Because your eSIM will not connect until you land, complete the card at home or on airport wifi before you board, and screenshot the confirmation.

Other entry points to note:

Your passport must be valid for at least six months after you arrive.
If you are coming from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, carry a vaccination certificate.
Many fruits, vegetables and animal products are banned, so declare anything you are unsure about.

Save your visa approval, arrival card, passport scan and onward ticket in one offline folder on your phone. Immigration and airline staff can ask for them at Jacksons and at domestic check-in.

Phones, ATMs and PMVs in Port Moresby, Lae and Mount Hagen

The UK Foreign Office rates the risk of serious crime as high in Port Moresby, Lae and Mount Hagen, with suburbs especially dangerous. It names the area around Parliament House in Waigani, particularly outside working hours, and the highway between Lae and Nadzab Airport as hotspots. Walking after dark is particularly risky.

Criminals carrying machetes and firearms target people using banks and ATMs, and the FCDO advises not displaying mobile phones, laptops or cameras. In practice:

Check directions and messages inside your hotel or vehicle, not on the pavement.
Use ATMs inside hotels or shopping centres, and put your phone away before you approach.
Back up photos to the cloud on hotel wifi each evening.

Armed robberies have happened on public buses, known as PMVs, and in taxis, and many vehicles are not roadworthy. Most visitors use hotel or company transport.

On the roads, carjacking is common and criminals set up roadblocks outside towns. Consider travelling in convoy or with a security escort, and keep doors locked and windows up. If you are involved in a crash, the FCDO advises leaving the scene and going to the nearest safe place before contacting police, as crowds can turn violent. Share live location with your hotel or employer on every road journey.

Highlands fighting zones, Kokoda and volcanic New Britain

As of August 2026, the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Hela and Southern Highlands provinces because of the high risk of tribal fighting, and to Enga Province except Wabag District. Authorities have declared the other Enga districts fighting zones, with checkpoints, searches and curfews. Tribal fighting elsewhere in the Highlands can escalate quickly; fighters do not normally target foreigners, but check local media and your hotel before every journey.

On the Kokoda Track, there have been serious attacks and robberies, and unexploded Second World War ordnance remains a hazard. Walk only with guides from established companies, and assume you will be out of mobile coverage for most of the trek.

PNG is also geologically active:

Mount Ulawun on New Britain erupted in November 2023, forcing more than 5,000 people to evacuate, and has shown low-level activity since.
Mount Bagana on Bougainville displaced many people in 2023, and Manam Island has been active since 2018.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit the New Britain region on 5 April 2025. Rabaul, Kimbe and Manam are higher-risk areas, and tsunamis can follow earthquakes.

Cyclone season runs from November to May, with flooding and landslides likely in rural areas. Check with your airline before flying to affected regions.

Researched October 2026 · 6 sources

gov.uk Papua New Guinea travel advice - GOV.UK
gov.uk Papua New Guinea travel advice: safety and security - GOV.UK
gov.uk Papua New Guinea travel advice: entry requirements - GOV.UK
gov.uk Papua New Guinea travel advice: getting help - GOV.UK
en.wikipedia.org Digicel Pacific - Wikipedia
royalbrinkman.com Voltage, frequency and plug type per country - Royal Brinkman

7-day itinerary

Seven days in Papua New Guinea: Port Moresby, Rabaul and Madang

A coast-and-islands week that avoids the Highlands fighting zones, built on domestic flights: a day of museums and war history in Port Moresby, volcanoes and Second World War sites around Rabaul, then reefs and wrecks off Madang.

Length: 7 days
Bases: 3

When to go May to October is the drier season across most of the country and the best time for diving and flying; from December to March the north-west monsoon brings heavy rain, and flights in cloud are more often delayed.

Day 1 Port Moresby

Port Moresby: museum, Parliament and Bomana

Jacksons International is about 20 minutes from most hotels by car.

Arrive at Jacksons International with your visa and Digital Arrival Card confirmation, and use hotel transport rather than PMVs or taxis. With a driver, visit the National Museum and Art Gallery for Sepik carvings and canoe prows, and see Parliament House in Waigani during working hours only. In the afternoon go to Bomana War Cemetery, where many who died on the Kokoda Track are buried, then the Port Moresby Nature Park for tree kangaroos and birds of paradise.

Signal Digicel 4G works across central Port Moresby and at the airport, and there is no 5G on this eSIM. Keep your phone out of sight in the street and near ATMs.
Day 2 Kokopo

Fly to East New Britain: Rabaul and Tavurvur

Air Niugini or PNG Air flight from Port Moresby to Tokua, about 1.5 hours; Kokopo to Rabaul is about 45 minutes by road.

Take a morning domestic flight to Tokua airport near Kokopo. In the afternoon drive to Rabaul, the old town partly buried by the 1994 eruptions, and go up to the volcano observatory lookout for the view over Simpson Harbour and the smoking cone of Tavurvur. Visit the Japanese barge tunnels cut into the hillside and Admiral Yamamoto's bunker.

Signal Digicel 4G works in Kokopo and around central Rabaul, with weaker spots inside the tunnels and on the volcanic plain. Check the Rabaul Volcano Observatory's alerts before heading up.
Day 3 Kokopo

Rabaul: harbour, wrecks and the volcano

With an established local guide, walk across the ash plain to the base of Tavurvur, or climb part way if activity is low. Afterwards take a boat around Simpson Harbour to snorkel or dive over Second World War wrecks in the bay, many of them Japanese supply ships. Back in Kokopo, visit the Kokopo War and Cultural Museum for aircraft remains and Tolai history.

Signal Expect weak or no signal on the boat and at the foot of Tavurvur. Coverage is reliable again in Kokopo town, so post photos and check in there.
Day 4 Madang

Travel day to Madang

Domestic flights from Tokua to Madang usually connect via Port Moresby or Lae; check Air Niugini and PNG Air schedules, which change often.

Fly to Madang on the north coast, usually via Port Moresby or Lae, so allow most of the day. In the late afternoon walk along the waterfront to the Coastwatchers Memorial Lighthouse, which honours the Allied observers who reported on Japanese movements in the war. Around dusk, watch the flying foxes leave their roosts in the trees in the centre of town.

Signal Signal is good at the airports; you will be offline in the air. Digicel 4G works in central Madang, and there is no inflight connectivity on most domestic flights.
Day 5 Madang

Madang: Krangket Island and the lagoon

Take a short boat across the harbour to Krangket Island, where villagers charge a small fee to swim and snorkel in the clear water around the reefs. Spend the afternoon on a boat trip round Madang's lagoon and nearby islands, stopping at coral gardens. Swim only where locals or your boat crew advise, as saltwater crocodiles live along parts of this coast.

Signal Coverage reaches some nearby islands but fades quickly out on the water. Download offline maps and agree a pick-up time with your boatman before you leave town.
Day 6 Madang

Diving the Madang wrecks, or a coast drive

Divers can spend the day with a Madang dive operator on the area's wartime wrecks, including aircraft and ships sunk in the harbour approaches, and on the drop-offs outside the lagoon. Non-divers can hire a driver to follow the North Coast Road for coastal villages and views, stopping for lunch by the sea. Ask your hotel about current road conditions and avoid travelling after dark.

Signal There is no signal on dive boats once offshore, and coverage is patchy along the North Coast Road between villages. Leave your plans with your hotel.
Day 7 Port Moresby

Back to Port Moresby

Madang to Port Moresby by domestic flight, roughly 1–1.5 hours.

Fly back to Port Moresby. If you have time before your international flight, visit Ela Beach and the crafts sold opposite it, or the Owers' Corner trailhead of the Kokoda Track about an hour out of the city, travelling only with an established operator. Keep valuables out of sight and return to your hotel or the airport well before dark.

Signal Digicel 4G is good in central Port Moresby, but coverage fades on the road out to Owers' Corner. Check your international flight status before leaving the hotel.

Staying connected on this route

Complete the Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours of arrival on wifi before you fly, and screenshot the confirmation.
Confirm every domestic flight the day before; schedules change often and connections are tight.
Use your phone inside hotels and vehicles rather than on the street in Port Moresby, Lae and Madang.
Stay out of Hela, Southern Highlands and most of Enga, which the UK Foreign Office advises against except for essential travel.

Itinerary sources · 3

gov.uk GOV.UK foreign travel advice: Papua New Guinea, warnings and insurance
en.wikivoyage.org Wikivoyage: Papua New Guinea
papuanewguinea.travel Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority

Where this comes from

Information and verification

Each block below says what was checked and when. Anything we cannot date, we do not claim.

Prices and plans: Every price and allowance on this page is read from the live catalog, not typed in.; Verified October 17, 2026
Host networks: The operator list comes from the network partner that carries this eSIM.; Verified October 17, 2026